Objective To explore the value of linear blending and non-linear blending images of dual-energy CT in improving the image quality of portal venography.Methods 60 patients clinically confirmed as liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension and gastric fundus esophageal varices were enrolled in the study.The patients underwent dual-energy (Sn140/80 kVp) scans in the portal phase, and four groups with 80 kVp and 140 kVp were defined as group A (linear blending images with M=0.3), B (linear ones with M=1.0), C (non-linear ones with c=150 and w=200) and D [non-linear ones with c=(CThepatic portal+CThepatic parenchymal)/2 and w=(CThepatic portal-CThepatic parenchymal)/2, and the CThepatic portal and CThepatic parenchymal were measured on M=0.3 image].The in portal vein enhancements, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and CT value difference between portal vein and liver parenchyma among four groups were compared by one-way ANOVA analysis of variance test.VRT imaging quality among four groups were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test.Results In four groups, the SNR and CNR of portal vein,and the CT value difference between portal vein and liver parenchyma(14.36 HU±3.23 HU,9.78 HU±2.39 HU,107.66 HU±21.28 HU) of group D were the highest (F=34.94,68.10 and 162.43,all P<0.01),and VRT image quality score of group D(4.78±0.42) was the best when compared to others (all P<0.01).Conclusion Non-linear blending technique of group D can improve the image quality of CT portography, which may be used in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of reducing bolus?tracking monitor frequency in coronary CT angiography (CTA). Methods This prospective study including 120 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). According to the examination registration order, the patients were divided into groups A, B and C (n=40 for each group). All patients underwent coronary CTA with bolus?tracking technology, and were monitored at 10 s after the injection of contrast. The monitoring frequency of bolus?tracking for Group A was every 1.14 s, that for Group B was every 1.47 s , and for Group C was every 2.00 s, while the trigger threshold was set as 100 HU. To evaluate the image quality, the objective evaluation included signal noise ratio (SNR) and contrast noise ratio (CNR) of aorta (AO), CNR of left main coronary artery (LM) and right coronary artery (RCA), and the subjective score was recorded for each coronary artery segment. The monitoring times when CT density of the region of interest (ROI) reached the threshold, the CT value and the effective dose (ED) in the 3 groups were recorded. Objective image quality, monitoring parameters and radiation dose were compared using analysis of variance method, subjective image quality was compared withχ2 tests. Results There was no significant difference in AO (SNR and CNR), LM (CNR) and RCA (CNR) among the 3 groups, respectively (P>0.05). Subjective image quality scores of groups A, B, C were (1.879±0.042), (1.876±0.042), (1.881±0.042 ), with no significant difference (χ2=0.003,P>0.05). The monitoring times of to reach the threshold in groups A, B, C were (4.78±2.37), (3.76±1.39), (2.77±0.99), and ED were (0.058±0.031),(0.031±0.011), (0.021±0.007) mSv, with the significant difference (F=9.009, 31.998, respectively, P<0.01). Peak CT values during monitoring among three groups were (133 ± 24), (142 ± 39), (137±26) HU, respectively, with no significant difference (F=0.575,P=0.565). Conclusions It is feasible to reduce monitoring times when performing coronary CTA in dual?source CT scanner. The bolus?tracking monitor frequency in every 2 seconds can not only obtain satisfactory image quality, but also significantly reduce radiation dose.

Objective To explore the relationship and its mechanism of emphysema induced by different ways of rearing and tobacco smoke exposure with the atherosclerosis formation. Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n= 8 ,each):a normal diet + tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) group ,a fat-rich diet + TSE group ,a limit intake + TSE group ,a normal diet group ,a fat-rich diet group ,and a limit intake group for 24 weeks. Lee's index ,serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) ,interleukin-6 (IL-6 ) ,adiponectin (APN ) levels ,mean linear intercept (MLI) ,mean alveoli number (MAN) ,the aortic pathology change ,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of aorta ,and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) level were collected. Results Tobacco smoke exposure ,fat-rich diet ,and limit intake increased the severity of emphysema. The microscopic features of aorta showed an early atherosclerosis in the tobacco smoke exposure groups , but no atherosclerosis in the non-smoking groups. Interactions between tobacco smoke exposure and different ways of rearing on serum APN level (F= 10.68 ,P< 0.05) were found.In the tobacco smoke exposure groups ,Pearson correlation analysis showed positive correlations of aortic VEGF and BMP-2 levels with MLI ,serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels (r= 0.431 ,0.471 ,0 ,448 ,0.449 ,0.428 , 0.447 ,all P<0.05) ,and an negative correlation with MAN (r= -0.411 ,-0.442 ,P<0.05). Conclusions Both tobacco smoke exposure and different ways of rearing can influence the formation of emphysema. There is a positive correlation between the severities of emphysema and atherosclerosis , and systemic inflammation may be involved.

Objective:To explore the situation of insomnia, fatigue, depression, anxiety and cognitive impairment in adolescents with different characteristics, and the chain mediating effect of fatigue, depression and anxiety on insomnia and cognitive impairment.Methods:The general demographic data of 6 014 adolescents were collected.Insomnia severity index (ISI), the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20), patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) and perceived deficits questionnaire-depression(PDQ-D) were used to compare the insomnia, fatigue, depression, anxiety and cognitive impairment of adolescents with different characteristics.Spearman correlation analysis was conducted by SPSS 20.0 software.The significance of mediating effect was tested by deviation corrected nonparametric percentile Bootstrap method using SPSS macro program PROCESS.Results:The detection rates of insomnia, fatigue, depression, anxiety and cognitive impairment were different in adolescents with different genders, grades and academic achievements.Cognitive impairment was significantly positively correlated with insomnia ( r=0.654, P<0.01), fatigue ( r=0.476, P<0.01), depression ( r=0.677, P<0.01), anxiety ( r=0.655, P<0.01), which was suitable for mediating effect test.Fatigue, depression and anxiety in adolescents had a chain mediating effect between insomnia and cognitive impairment.Insomnia indirectly affects cognition by affecting fatigue and depressive symptoms.The intermediary effect value was 1.253, the effect amount was 55.60%, and the total effect was 2.254.Insomnia indirectly affects cognition by affecting fatigue and anxiety symptoms.The intermediary effect value was 1.161, the effect amount was 51.50%, and the total effect was 2.254. Conclusion:Insomnia can not only directly affect their cognitive impairment, but also indirectly affect their cognitive impairment through the chain mediation of fatigue, depression and anxiety of adolescents.

ObjectiveTo discuss the relationship between objective sleep quality and cognitive function in remission depression patients with insomnia. MethodsA total of 47 patients with depression in remission in Beijing Huilongguan Hospital were enrolled. Insomnia Severity Index （ISI） and the sleep efficiency calculated by the first four items of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI） were defined as insomnia. Among the selected patients， 22 subjects were classified into insomnia group， and 25 subjects in non-insomnia group. The objective sleep status of all subjects was evaluated by polysomnography （PSG）， and the cognitive function was evaluated with the Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status （RBANS）. A regression model was established to explore the relationship between objective sleep quality and cognitive function in remission depression patients with insomnia. ResultsThere was statistically significant difference in immediate memory factor scores of RBANS between depression patients in remission with and without insomnia （t=-2.102， P<0.05）. The sleep efficiency （Z=-2.113， P<0.05）， the proportion of N3 sleep stage （Z=-3.175， P<0.01） and the duration of N3 sleep stage （Z=-3.196， P<0.01） in insomnia group were all lower than those in non-insomnia group， and the nocturnal awakening （Z=-2.058， P<0.01）， the proportion of N1 sleep stage （Z=-2.399， P<0.05） and the duration of N1 sleep stage （Z=-2.463， P<0.05） were higher than those of the insomnia group. Within insomnia group， the increased proportion of REM sleep was correlated with the improvement of attention function （β=0.953， 95% CI： 0.123~2.038， P<0.05）， and the increase of nocturnal awakening was correlated with the decline of delayed memory （β=-0.173， 95% CI： -0.325~-0.024， P<0.05）. ConclusionObjective sleep is associated with cognitive impairment in remission depression patients with insomnia， the proportion of REM sleep has a positive impact on attention function， and frequent nocturnal awakening at night has a negative impact on delayed memory.