Objective:To establish and validate a malignant risk prediction model of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) with pulmonary fibrosis in long-term smokers based on 18F-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT. Methods:PET/CT images of 222 SPNs combined with pulmonary fibrosis which were shown in integrated CT scan in 169 patients (all males; age 68(63, 75) years) were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were examined in PET/CT Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2011 to December 2019 and all had definite smoking history. The benign and malignant nodules were judged according to the pathological diagnosis or follow-up imaging data of lung lesions (follow-up≥2 years). The clinical characteristics (age, smoking index), morphological characteristics (longest diameter of lesion, density, location, distribution, relative position of fibrosis, spiculation, lobulation, calcification, vacuole, vascular convergence, pleural indentation, emphysema and severity of bilateral pulmonary fibrosis) and metabolic characteristics (maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max)) of the benign and malignant lesions were analyzed by χ2 test and Mann-Whitney U test. Then multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to select independent risk factors of malignant nodules, and a risk prediction model was established and verified by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and k-fold cross validation ( k=10) respectively. Results:Among 169 patients, 222 SPNs were detected (157 malignant nodules, 65 benign nodules). Univariate analysis showed that smoking index, speculation, lobulation, vascular convergence sign, calcification, emphysema, nodule size, relative position of nodule and fibrosis, SUV max and severity of bilateral pulmonary fibrosis were significantly different between the benign and malignant nodules ( z values: 2.514-9.858, χ2 values: 4.353-18.442, all P<0.05). Result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that calcification, vascular convergence and SUV max were the independent risk factors of malignant nodules combined with pulmonary fibrosis (odds ratio ( OR): 0.048-2.534, all P<0.05). The risk prediction model was as follow: P=1/(1+ e - x), x=-1.839-3.033×calcification+ 0.930×vascular convergence+ 0.754×SUV max(with calcification/vascular convergence=1, without calcification/vascular convergence=0). The area under ROC curve was 0.932(95% CI: 0.895-0.969), and the sensitivity and specificity of the model were 87.9% and 86.2%, respectively. Results of k-fold cross validation showed that the prediction accuracy of 10 test sets was 0.847±0.075, and was 0.862±0.010 in training sets. Conclusions:Calcification, vascular convergence and SUV max are independent risk factors of malignant SPNs combined with pulmonary fibrosis in long-term asymptomatic smokers. The model based on the above variables presents high diagnostic efficiency in diagnosing malignant SPNs.

Objective To compare the 18F-FDG PET metabolic characteristics and VHRCT morphological characteristics between invasive and non-invasive adenocarcinoma presenting as pure ground-glass nodules(pGGN).Methods Fifty-one patients with pGGN from October 2010 to June 2016 were retrospectively enrolled in this study.There were totally 52 lesions with sizes of no more than 30 mm and were grouped depending on pathological and follow-up diagnosis (31 lesions in the invasive adenocarcinoma group and 21 lesions in the non-invasive group).Clinical and imaging features were analyzed including age,gender,lesion location,size,density,SUVmax T/N,spiculation,lobulation,pleural indentation,vascular connection signs,vacuole sign and the air bronchogram.T test or x2-test was used in the comparison of different manifestations between the two groups.Logistic regression analysis on clinical parameters was applied.The ROC curve was used to find the cutoff of T/N.Results In the invasive adenocarcinoma group,T/N,SUV density and size were 1.97±0.71,1.16±0.54,-(431±104)HU,(18.48±5.65)mm,respectively.In the non-invasive group,T/N,SUVmax density,size were 1.20±0.28,0.64±0.20,-(533± 109)HU,(12.05±5.04)mm,respectively.The differences of T/N,SUVmax density and size had statistical significance between the two groups (t=-5.40,-4.87,-3.39,-4.21,P＜0.05).Lobulation and vascular connection signs in the invasive adenocarcinoma group were found in 21 and 13 cases respectively,while in the non-invasive group,they were present in 2 and 1 case,respectively,which showed significant differences between the two groups(x2=17.85,7.01,P＜0.05).T/N,lobulation,and vascular connection signs were the independent factors for the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions.The ORs were 52.547,8.375,72.206,respectively.When T/N=l.62,the area under the ROC curve was 0.885.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 77.42％,90.48％,82.69％,respectively.Conclusions Pulmonary pGGNwith T/N no less than 1.62,lobulation and vascular connection sign indicates an invasive adenocarcinoma.

Objective To assess the effects of limited hepatectomy on liver regeneration and function recovery of cirrhotic animal model.Methods Cirrhotic rat models were first prepared by intraperitoneal injection of CCL4.After that,the cirrhotic animal models underwent 20％ hepatectomy (n =30).The cirrhotic animals that underwent sham operation (n =30) and normal animals that underwent 20％ hepatectomy (n =30) were used as control groups.From the time when cirrhotic models were prepared to 3 months after 20％ hepatectomy,the hepatic function,coagulation function were tested regularly.Western blotting and real-time PCR were carried out to test the protein and gene expression of TGF-β,HGF and PCNA.Results Hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis were observed during the preparation of cirrhotic rat models by intraperitoneal injection of CCL4.The hepatic function and coagulation function of cirrhotic models were partly recovered 3 month after 20％ hepatectomy.The gene and protein expression levels of TGF-β in the liver of animal model get higher during the preparation of cirrhotic rat models.However,the gene and protein expression levels of TGF-β get lower in cirrhotic model undergoing 20％ hepatectomy,when compared with that in cirrhotic animals (sham operation) and normal animals (20％ hepatectomy).Furthermore,the gene and protein expression levels of HGF and PCNA get higher in cirrhotic model undergoing 20％ hepatectomy,when compared with that in cirrhotic animals (sham operation) and normal animals (20％ hepatectomy).Conclusions Experimental limited hepatectomy facilitates the liver regeneration and function recovery of cirrhotic animal model,which may provide a novel method for the prevention and treatment of cirrhosis using limited hepatectomy technique.

Objective To compare the characteristics of lymph nodes on 18F-FDG imaging in patients with NHL and widespread lymph node metastases carcinoma (WLNMC) for helping the differential diagnosis.Methods A total of 40 NHL patients(22 males,18 females,average age 51 years) and 42 WLNMC patients (19 males,23 females,average age 61 years) confirmed by histopathology from November 2010 to May 2015 were included in this retrospective study.The regions and the metabolism features of the lesions on PET/CT images were observed and recorded with routine visual method.Two-sample t test and x2 test were used for statistical analysis.Results Lymph nodes of NHL were kidney-shaped (47.2％,142/301),which was significantly different from that of WLNMC with circular form (47.6％,140/294;x2 =36.261,P＜0.05).Lymph nodes of NHL mostly showed homogeneous density with no necrosis (51.8％,156/301);however,that of WLNMC showed uneven density (20.4％,60/294) or with necrosis (32.3％,95/294;x2 =26.266,P＜0.05).Both of the two kinds of lymph nodes showed the characteristic of fusion (30.6％ (92/301) vs 36.1％ (106/294);x2 =2.019,P＞0.05).The ratios of lymph nodes with clear boundary in NHL and WLNMC were significantly different:28.2％(85/301) vs 19.4％(57/294);x2 =6.413,P＜0.05.Lymph nodes with symmetric distribution were more in NHL patients (52.5％,158/301)than that in WLNMC patients (42.2％,124/294;X2=6.347,P＜0.05).Sizes of lymph nodes in NHL patients and WLNMC patients were not significantly different:(2.08±0.65) cm vs (1.97±0.81) cm;t=0.316,P＞0.05.SUVmax of lymph nodes in NHL patients (9.02±3.97) was much higher than that in WLNMC patients (6.92± 1.34;t=0.370,P＜0.05).Conclusions Some characteristics of lymph nodes on 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging,such as the distribution,morphology,density and glucose metabolism features,are different in patients with NHL and WLNMC.Those differences may be helpful for the differential diagnosis.

A total of 166 women with intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy (ICP) participated in the study. Serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine 4 (FT4) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were quantified for all of them with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technique, and compared with those in normal pregnant women. Results showed that serum TSH and TPOAb [22. 9%(38/166)] increased significantly, but no significant change in serum level of FT4 was observed in women with ICP, as compared to those in normal pregnant women. Overall prevalence of thyroid diseases in ICP women was 35.5% (59/166), significantly higher than that in normal population screened for thyroid disease (17. 1%, 143/837) at the same time period. It suggests that thyroid dysfunction may be involved in pathogenesis of ICP.

Objective To develop a model of malignant risk prediction of solitary pulmonary nodules(SPN) with the metabolic characteristics of the lesion.Methods A total of 362 patients (291 malignant cases and 71 benign cases;194 males,168 females;median age:61 years) who underwent PET/CT imaging from January 2013 to July 2017 were analyzed.The diagnosis of malignant SPN was based on pathological results,and that of benign SPN was based on pathological or follow-up results.Differences of clinical/imaging characteristics in patients with benign and those with malignant SPN were analyzed.Risk factors were screened by multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis.The self-verification of the model was done by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis,out-of-group verification was performed by k-fold cross-validation.Results There were statistically significant differences in age,maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax),size,lobulation,spiculation,pleural traction,vessel connection,calcification,vacuole,and emphysema between patients with benign and malignant nodules (all P＜0.05).The risk factors for malignant nodules included age,SUVmax,size,lobulation,calcification and vacuole.The odds ratio (OR) values (95％ CI) were 1.040(1.007-1.075),1.612(1.287-2.017),1.149(1.074-1.230),4.650(2.138-10.115),0.216(0.085-0.548),and 3.043(1.302-7.111),respectively.The logistic regression model was as follows:P=1/(1+e-x),x=-5.583+0.039×age+0.477×SUVmaxx+0.139×size+1.537×lobulation-1.532×calcification+ 1.1 13×vacuole.The estimated area under the curve (AUC) for the model was 0.915(95％ CI:0.883-0.947),sensitivity was 89.7％,specificity was 78.9％.K-fold cross-validation showed that the training accuracy was 0.899±0.011,the predictive accuracy was 0.873±0.053.Conclusions The risk factors for malignant nodules included age,SUVmax,size,lobulation,calcification and vacuole.After verification,the model has a satisfactory accuracy.It may help clinics make accurate decisions.

Objective:To explore sagittal parameters change of upper cervical spine after anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) and analyze the influential factors by comparison between single-, double- and multi-level surgery.Methods:In this retrospective study, 126 patients (include 60 patients with radiculopathy, 41 patients with myelopathy and 25 patients with myeloradiculopathy) who underwent ACDF between December 2016 and December 2018, were followed up at least 1year ranged from14 to 38 months, with the average of 25.6±7.2 months. 20 patients were operated by single-level ACDF, 45 patients were operated by double-level ACDF and 61 patients were operated by 3- or 4-level ACDF. Standing radiographs of cervical spine and the flexion and extension cervical X-rays were obtained in all patients at 1week before, 3 months after and 1year after operation. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) were used to evaluate the clinical effectiveness. Cervical sagittal parameters were assessed with the following parameters: the platform angle of axis (C2Slope), the cobb angle and the range of motion (ROM) of C2-7, C0-1 and C1-2.Results:All the patients obtained satisfactory clinical effects. The mean operative time of single-, double- and multi-level group were 86.4±15.5 min, 117.6±15.6 min and 170.2±28.7 min, respectively. The intraoperative blood loss of 3 groups were 16.5±5.2 ml, 37.2±30.5 ml and 63.4±41.5 ml, respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the 3 groups ( P<0.05). In the single- and double-level groups, the changes of the cobb angle and ROM of upper cervical spine between 1 week before operation and 1 year after operation was no significant difference ( P>0.05). In the multi-level group, the ROM of atlantooccipital joint (C0-1) increased significantly from 11.5°±6.1° before operation to 16.1°±13.9° 3 months and 15.3°±4.8° 1 year after operation ( P<0.05). The cobb angle of upper cervical spine and C2Slpoe was decreased significantly from 21.0°±7.6°, 6.1°±6.7° before operation to 18.6°±7.7°, 4.3°±6.9° 3 months and 19.7°±7.2°, 5.6°±6.3° 1 year after operation respectively ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference of cobb angle ofatlantooccipital joint between 1 week before operation and 1 year after operation ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Single- and double-level surgery makes a better ability of preserving the restoration of cervical lordosis, with little impact on the upper cervical spine, meanwhile multi-level fusion shows a negative influence on the restoration and limits the range of motion, also increases risk of surgical operation and degeneration of the atlantooccipital joint, with the increased stress distribution and range of motion.

Hypertriglyceridemia （HTG） is the second leading cause of acute pancreatitis in China and can be caused by primary factors， namely gene mutations， which may lead to recurrent hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis （HTG-AP） and difficulties in effective control of triglyceride. This article reports an adult Chinese male patient who experienced eight attacks of HTG-AP and was found to carry a de novo heterozygous mutation， p.K327N， of the GPD1 gene， which may cause the persistent high level of triglyceride and recurrent attacks of HTG-AP.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility, safety and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following previous resection.

METHODSBetween January 2003 and January 2011, 14 patients with recurrent HCC were carefully selected to undergo repeat laparoscopic hepatectomy, among which 9 patients were male, 5 patients were female, and the average age was 54 years. Prior to re-resection, all patients had undergone at least one open hepatectomy for HCC. The perioperative and long-term outcomes of these patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSRepeat laparoscopic hepatectomy for these 14 patients were successfully performed without major perioperative complications. The mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay were (124 ± 82) minutes, (112 ± 43) ml and (7 ± 4) days, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 23 months (range 14 to 42 months). At the time of follow-up, 11 patients were still alive, among which 3 patients developed recurrent disease and 8 patients remained disease free. One patient died of liver dysfunction at 21 months, and another 2 patients died of tumor recurrence at 17, 31 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic surgery for recurrent HCC remains a viable option for repeat hepatectomy in selected patients who have undergone open hepatectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies