Objective To assess the effects of image fusion of CT spectral monochromatic imaging on image quality in small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Thirty patients with 40 pathologically proven small HCCs (≤3 cm) underwent upper abdominal plain CT and dual-phase enhanced spectral CT scan were analyzed retrospectively.Conventional 140 kVp polychromatic images (group A) and monochromatic images with energy levels from 40 to 140 keV were reconstructed by using spectral imaging viewer.Monochromatic images with highest CNR (group B)and 70 keV images with lowest noise (group C) were fused to generate fused images (group D) with image fusion software.Objective evaluation of 40 HCCs [contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of lesion,image noise in HU] and subjective rating score of 30 patients (image noise score,overall image quality score,and lesion conspicuity score) among the four groups were compared by using One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis H test.Results CNR (1.3±0.6,2.1±0.6,1.5±0.6 and 2.4± 1.3 respectively) and image noise [(20±7),(32±9),(18±3) and (24±6) HU respectively] among group A,B,C and D all had statistical differences (F =5.724 and 13.619,both P values ＜ 0.01).CNR in group D was higher as compared with group A and C (both P values ＜ 0.05),but was similar to group B (P ＞ 0.05).Image noise in group D was lower than group B and higher than group C,but showed no difference from group A (all P values ＞ 0.05).Image noise scores [(3.5±0.5),(3.3±0.4),(3.6±0.5)and(3.5±0.4)point,respectively],overall image quality scores [(3.2 ± 0.4),(3.3 ± 0.3),(3.1 ± 0.3) and (3.7 ± 0.4) point respectively] and lesion conspicuity scores [(3.3 ±0.4),(3.9±0.4),(3.2±0.4) and (3.7 ±0.4) point,respectively] among the four groups all had statistical differences (Z =9.581,37.495 and 43.436,all P values ＜ 0.05).Scores of the four groups were all greater than 3 and met the clinical diagnostic level.Group D was higher than group B in image noise score,higher than the other three groups in overall image quality score,higher than group A in lesion conspicuity score (all P values ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Combined use of CT spectral monochromatic imaging and image fusion can improve overall image quality while maintaining or increasing CNR in small HCC.

Objective:To assess type C behavior in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) in order to provide basis for clinical prevention,treatment and psychological intervention of OLP.Methods:Type C behavior scale was used on 85 OLP patients and 85 control patients,who were in accordance with the inclusion criteria,in order to investigate their type C behavior.The scale included 9 items:anxiety,depression,anger,anger toward inside (anger-in),anger toward outside (anger-out),reasoning,domination,optimism,and social support.Scores of the 9 items between OLP patients and control group were calculated under the instruction of the scale and were statistically analyzed,and OLP group was further stratified statistically by sex,reticulate-erosive-ulcerative (REU) pathological type and course of diseases,and the scores of each group were analyzed and compared.Results:Among the 85 OLP patients,there were more females,more non-erosive lesion type,and the most common site for OLP was the buccal mucosa.The scores of the type-C behavior questionnaire for anxiety,depression,anger and optimism were respectively 43.01 ± 7.47,44.02 ± 7.61,21.56 ± 5.26,22.15 ± 4.00 among the OLP patients and were 37.94 ±8.70,39.58 ±7.35,18.12 ±5.39,24.05 ±3.23 among control group,with significant differences (P ＜ 0.05 for all) between the two groups.The female OLP patients had higher anxiety,depression,anger scores (43.21 ± 6.97,44.29 ± 7.54,21.64 ± 5.09) and lower reasoning,domination,optimism scores (39.12 ±5.66,16.29 ±3.95,22.05 ±4.12) with significant differences (P ＜0.05 for all) compared with those of the female controls.The scores between male patients and male controls showed no significant difference.The patients with erosive lesions had higher anger score (22.94 ± 5.26) than that of the patients without erosive lesions (20.60 ± 5.03),with a significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).With the development of the disease,the tendency of anxiety and depression of the patients were more obvious,while optimism scores remained declining.The patients suffering more than 3 years of OLP had higher anger-toward-outside scores (17.36 ± 3.35) than the patients suffering less than 3 years of OLP (15.19±3.99),with a significant difference (P ＜0.05).Conclusion:OLP patients showed an obvious type C behavior characteristic,especially in anxiety,depression,anger and low optimism.This research provides the C behavior characteristic of OLP for further psychological consultation or intervention during OLP treatment.

Objective To investigate the levels of 8 minerals that are related to human health in serum of elderly popu?lation in Tianjin and to provide evidence based guidance for scientifical and rational dietary. Methods Venous blood was collected from 714 elderly people and the levels of 8 minerals were examined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spec?trometry (ICP-MS). Results The percentage of the elderly people who are short of at least one mineral was up to 92.7%. The percentages of deficiency in serum zinc, manganese, magnesium, chrome, iron, calcium, copper, selenium are 79.3%, 73.4%, 58.5%, 42.4%, 39.8%, 23.0%, 1.5%and 0.6%respectively . The level of Ferrum in men’s serum is higher than that in women, while the levels of calcium, chrome and copper in men’s serum are lower than those in women. Conclusion The level of the minerals is generally low in the elderly population from Tianjin and ways were needed in improving dietary.

Objective:To evaluate the role of silencing information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/nuclear factors E2-related factor2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in berberine-induced reduction of renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice.Methods:Thirty SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were divided into 5 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (S group), renal I/R group (RIR group), berberine+ I/R group (B group), berberine+ I/R+ SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 group (BE group) and berberine+ I/R+ Nrf2 inhibitor ATRA group (BA group). After the right kidney was removed, the left renal artery was clamped for 45 min followed by reperfusion to establish the model of renal I/R injury.In B, BE, and BA groups, berberine 100 mg·kg -1·d -1 was given for intragastric administration at 14 days before surgery.In group BE and group BA, EX527 5 mg·kg -1·d -1 and ATRA 10 mg·kg -1·d -1 were injected intraperitoneally at 3 days before surgery, respectively.The equal volume of normal saline was given for 14 consecutive days in group S and group RIR.Blood samples were collected from orbital vein at 24 h of reperfusion for measurement of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) concentrations, for determination of the interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) contents (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and expression of SIRT1, Nrf2, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), caspase-1, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain (NLRP3) (by Western blot) and for examination of the pathological changes of renal tubules (with a light microscope). The damage to the renal tubules was scored. Results:Compared with group S, the concentrations of serum Cr and BUN, the contents of renal IL-1β and TNF-α and renal tubular injury score were significantly increased in RIR, B, BE and BA groups, the expression of SIRT1, Nrf2, ASC, caspase-1 and NLRP3 was up-regulated in RIR, BE and BA groups, and the expression of SIRT1, Nrf2, caspase-1 and NLRP3 was up-regulated in group B ( P<0.05). Compared with group RIR, the concentrations of serum Cr and BUN, the contents of renal IL-1β and TNF-α and renal tubular injury score were significantly decreased in B, BE and BA groups, the expression of SIRT1 and Nrf2 in group B, Nrf2 and ASC in BE group and SIRT1, ASC and caspase-1 in BA group was up-regulated, and the expression of ASC, caspase-1 and NLRP3 in group B, SIRT1 and NLRP3 in BE group and Nrf2 in BA group was down-regulated ( P<0.05). Compared with group B, the serum concentrations of Cr and BUN, the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α and renal tubular injury score were significantly increased in BE and BA groups, the expression of ASC, caspase-1 and NLRP3 in BE and BA groups was up-regulated, and the expression of SIRT1 in BE and Nrf2 in BA groups was down-regulated ( P<0.05). Conclusion:SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway is involved in the process of berberine-induced reduction of renal I/R, which is related to inhibiting pyroptosis in mice.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of berberine on necroptosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice and its relationship with adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/ signal transducer and activator of transcription 6(STAT6) pathway.Methods:Twenty-five 8-week-old male C57BL/6N mice were divided into control group, steatotic liver group, berberine treatment group(200 mg·kg -1·d -1), AMPK inhibitor Compound C treatment group(0.2 mg·kg -1·d -1), and STAT6 inhibitor AS1517499 treatment group(10 mg·kg -1·d -1). After 12 weeks of intervention, the mice and liver tissue were weighed, and serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), triglyceride, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β) as well as liver malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase were measured; liver tissue HE, Masson, and oil red O staining were performed. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of necroptosis related proteins[receptor interaction protein kinase 3(RIPK3), phosphorylated(p-) mixed lineage kinase domain-like(MLKL)], AMPK, p-AMPK, and p-STAT6. Results:Compared with control group, the steatotic liver group had higher quality of liver and liver index, and higher levels of serum AST, ALT, triglyceride, TNF-α, IL-1β, and oxidative stress( P<0.05); Liver tissue was full of cavity changes and inflammatory cell infiltration, widely distributed red lipid droplets and obvious blue fiber dyeing; The expressions of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were up-regulated ( P<0.05), but the levels of p-AMPK and p-STAT6 were relatively reduced ( P<0.05). Compared with the steatotic liver group, berberine intervention decreased liver quality and liver index, improved liver function, reduced blood lipid levels, pro-inflammatory factor expression and oxidative stress level, and significantly alleviated the degree of liver steatosis and fibrosis, the levels of RIPK3 and p-MLKL ( P<0.05), while the expressions of p-AMPK and p-STAT6 were increased significantly ( P<0.05). As compared with the berberine treatment, AMPK and STAT6 inhibitor treatment could offset the protective effect of berberine on steatotic liver, moreover, the expressions of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were increased ( P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in AMPK total protein content among the five groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Berberine can activate AMPK/STAT6 pathway to inhibit the necroptosis of hepatocyte, thus plays a protective role on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

To evaluate the correlation of the serum uric acid and free fatty acid (FFA) levels in Shandong coastal residents. To investigate the correlation between serum uric acid and FFA based on 3860 individuals who have been long staying in Qingdao, Yantai, Weihai, Rizhao with a randomized, stratified cluster sampling method. According to FFA quartile, subjects were divided into four groups: group Q1 of 908, group Q21016, group Q3958, and group Q4978 cases. The prevalence of hyperuricemia and serum uric acid levels increased with the increasing FFA quartile. Compared with Q1, Q2, and Q3 groups, the prevalence of hyperuricemia in Q4 group and the increase of serum uric acid were statistically significant(P<0. 05). And in the group Q4, hyperuricemia prevalence is twice as the group A. According to the serum uric acid level, subjects were divided into the normal uric acid group(n=3331) and the hyperuricemia group ( n = 529). In the hyperuricemia group, their systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, hip circumference, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), glucose, uric acid, FFA, body mass index etc. were significantly higher than those of the normal uric acid group (all P<0. 01), while the high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-C), cystatin, glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are significantly lower than those of the normal uric acid group( all P<0. 01). Serum uric acid levels are positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures, waist and hip circumferences, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, FFA, blood glucose, body mass index (all P<0. 01); and negatively correlated with eGFR (P<0. 01). Multiple regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure, FFA, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, blood glucose, body mass index, eGFR were factors influencing serum uric acid independently. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, total cholesterol, blood glucose, and FFA are independent risk factors to predict hyperuricemia onset while eGFR is a protective factor. Serum uric acid level is closely related to the free fatty acid, and FFA seems to be involved in the development and progression of hyperuricemia.

Objective:To explore the serum tenascin-C levels in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and its impact on the long-term prognosis.Methods:One hundred and thirteen STEMI patients who were admitted to the Department of Cardiology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University and successfully underwent emergency PCI from June 2015 to June 2016 were included in this prospective study. The serum tenascin-C levels were measured during hospitalization, and the patients were divided into tenascin-C ≥ 120 μg/L group and tenascin-C<120 μg/L group according to the serum tenascin-C level. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were observed during the 5 years follow up in all patients. According to the incidence of MACE, the patients were divided into MACE group and non-MACE group, and the predictive factors of MACE were analyzed. Continuous variables were presented as the mean±standard deviation and compared with the Student′s t-test. Categorical variables were presented as percentages and compared with the Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of serum tenascin-C level in predicting MACE in STEMI patients. Kaplan Meier survival analysis was used to compare the incidence of MACE between two groups. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of MACE during the 5 years follow up.Results:The serum tenascin-C levels in the STEMI patients increased on the first day after the onset of disease (46.5±24.8 μg/L), peaked on the third day (97.5±41.2 μg/L), and then gradually decreased. All patients were followed up for 5 years. There were 37 cases of MACE, including 4 cases of cardiac death (3.5%), 14 cases of heart failure (12.4%), 14 cases of recurrent myocardial infarction or revascularization (12.4%), and 5 cases of stroke (4.4%). For prediction of MACE, the area under the curve of the serum TN-C level was 0.953 (95% CI 0.918-0.988, P<0.05), which was thus a valuable biomarker in predicting MACE for STEMI patients. The incidence of MACE in the group of tenascin-C≥120 μg/L group was higher than that in the group of tenascin-C<120 μg/L group (86.4% [19/22] vs 19.8% [18/91]), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that serum tenascin-C level was an independent predictor of MACE for STEMI patients during the 5 years follow-up ( HR=1.007, 95% CI 1.001-1.012, P<0.05). In addition, other variables including high sensitivity C-reactive protein ( HR=1.028, 95% CI 1.007-1.049, P<0.05), and cardiac troponin Ⅰ ( HR=1.004, 95% CI 1.000-1.008, P<0.05) were also found to be the independent predictors of MACE. Conclusions:The serum tenascin-C levels in STEMI patients increased significantly during the acute disease phase. Detecting the serum tenascin-C levels is valuable for predicting MACE in STEMI patients, and serum tenascin-C is an independent predictor of MACE in STEMI patients during the long-term follow-up period after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on fatigue improvement and gut microbiota in mice with cancer-related fatigue(CRF),and explore its possible mechanism of action.Methods The mice model of CRF of breast cancer after chemotherapy was established by tumor bearing and chemotherapy.After acupuncture intervention,fatigue was evaluated by general condition,forced swimming and open field experiment.Then 16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze the structural abundance of gut microbiota in mice.Results Acupuncture could significantly improve the fatigue degree and general condition of the mice model of CRF of breast cancer after chemotherapy.At the same time,acupuncture could adjust the abundance of gut microbiota structure,up-regulate the abundance levels of Lactobacillus,Bacteroides,firmicutes,actinobacteria,and down-regulate the abundance levels of Proteobacteria and Staphylococcus.There were also differences in the abundance of flora structure among the groups,but the abundance of beneficial bacteria was relatively high in the acupuncture group,and the abundance of pathogenic bacteria was relatively high in the other two groups.Conclusion Acupuncture may play a role in the treatment of CRF by regulating the abundance of gut microbiota structure,increasing intestinal beneficial bacteria,inhibiting pathogenic bacteria,improving body immunity,and alleviating adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Objective:To explore the treatment efficacy of neuroendoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle in patients with Chiari malformation type I.Methods:Ninety-five patients with Chiari malformation type I, admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to January 2020, were chosen in our study. Patients from observation group ( n=57) were treated with posterior cranial fossa decompression+subdural tonsillectomy+endoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle+enlarged reconstruction of the occipital cistern. Patients from control group ( n=38) were treated with posterior fossa decompression+subdural tonsillectomy+enlarged reconstruction of the occipital cistern. All patients were followed up for one year. Data of surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative length of hospital stay, and incidence of complications were retrospectively analyzed in patients from the two groups, and the imaging changes of spinal cavity were observed before surgery and during postoperative follow-up. Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale (CCOS) was used to evaluate the prognoses of all patients (scores of 11-16 were defined as good prognosis). The differences of good prognosis rate among patients with different gender, age, degrees of tonsillar herniation and distributions of spinal cavity segments were analyzed. Results:There was no significant difference in surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative length of hospital stay or incidence of complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). As compared with the control group (65.5%), the observation group had higher syringomyelia minification (75.5%) during postoperative follow-up, without significant difference ( P>0.05). The good prognosis rate of the observation group during postoperative follow-up (91.2%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (78.9%, P<0.05). Female patients, patients with age≤45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level below the atlas had significantly higher good prognosis rate than male patients, patients with age>45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level between the foramen magnum and the atlas during postoperative follow-up, respectively ( P<0.05). Conclusion:As compared with conventional surgery, neuroendoscope-assisted exploration and release of the outflow tract of the fourth ventricle is more effective in patients with Chiari malformation type I, and the good prognosis rate is likely higher in female patients, patients with age≤45 years, and patients with tonsillar herniation level below the atlas.

Objective: To investigate the safety of argatroban in vertebral artery stenting and its effect on postoperative restenosis. Methods: From January 2013 to September 2017, patients undergoing vertebral artery stenting in the Department of Neurology, Jinling Hospital were enrolled prospectively. They were divided into agatraban group and heparin group by random number table method. The argatroban group received argatroban anticoagulation during the procedure, and was continuously used for 5 d after procedure; while the heparin group underwent heparin anticoagulation during the procedure, and used saline as placebo after procedure. Clinical follow-up was performed at 1, 3, and 6 months after procedure. Digital subtraction angiography, CT angiography, or magnetic resonance angiography were performed at 6 months to evaluate the restenosis of the treated blood vessels. The primary endpoints included intraoperative safety, in-stent restenosis after procedure, and any clinical events that occurred during the follow-up period, including stroke, cardiovascular events, and death. Major safety events included bleeding from various organs, allergic reactions, liver dysfunction, and embolism events. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to evaluate the incidence of vascular events during the follow-up period. Results: A total of 105 patients were enrolled in the analysis, including 53 in the argatroban group and 52 in the heparin group. During the periprocedural period, no hemorrhagic events, allergic reactions, liver dysfunction or embolism events occurred in both groups. There were no significant differences in preoperative vertebral artery stenosis degree, postoperative residual stenosis degree, and stenosis degree at 6 months after procedure between the two groups, but the increase of stent stenosis at 6 months after procedure in the agatroban group was significantly lower than that in the heparin group (13.56%±26.41% vs. 4.25%±15.76%; P=0.031). There was no significant difference in the incidence of stroke recurrence (P=1.000) and clinical events (P=0.739) between the two groups during the long-term follow-up period. Conclusions It is safe to use agatraban anticoagulant therapy in the vertebral artery stenting. Continuous use of agatraban anticoagulation after procedure may effectively reduce the increase of stent stenosis at 6 months after procedure.