Objective To estimate the value of neck circumference in diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Methods We analyzed the neck circumference of 523 volunteers and the occurrence of metabolic syndrome among them. Then we updated and revalued their data after follow-up for 1.5 years, meanwhile, we evaulated the value of Body Mass Index (BMI) and neck circumference in predicting metabolic syndrome. Results The increase of neck circumference was closely related to the occurrence of metabolic syndrome , and this tendency continued in the follow-up. Compared with BMI , neck circumference was sensitive in identifying the patients of metabolic syndrome. Conclusion Neck circumference has great value in diagnosis and treatment of metabolic syndrome.

Objective To study the setup errors in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) for thoracic esophageal carcinoma using electronic portal imaging device(EPID) and calculate the margins from CTV to PTV. Methods Forty-one patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma who received 3DCRT were continuously enrolled into this study. The anterior and lateral electronic portal images (EPI) were aquired by EPID once a week. The setup errors were obtained through comparing the difference between EPI and digitally reconstructed radiographs(DRR). Then the setup margins from CTV to PTV were calculat-ed. By using self paired design,22 patients received definitive radiotherapy with different margins. Group A: the margins were 10 mm in all the three axes;Group B: the margins were aquired in this study. The differ-ence were compared by Paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results The margins from CTV to PTV in x,y and z axes were 8.72 mm, 10.50 mm and 5.62 mm, respectively. Between the group A and group B, the difference of the maximum dose of the spinal cord was significant(4638.7 cGy±1449.6 cGy vs. 4310.2 cGy±1528.7 cGy; t=5.48, P=0.000), and the difference of NTCP for the spinal cord was also significant (4.82%±5.99% vs. 3.64%±4.70%;Z=-2.70,P=0.007). Conclusions For patients with tho-racic esophageal carcinoma who receive 3DCRT in author's department,the margins from CTV to PTV in x, y and z axes were 8.72 mm, 10.50 mm and 5.62 mm, respectively. The spinal cord could be better protected by using these setup margins than using 10 mm in each axis.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of modified FOLFOX4 program with docetaxel-oxaliplatin-5-fluorouracil (DOF) program as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage Ⅲ gastric cancer patients.Methods In 86 cases of stage Ⅲ gastric cancer patients,42 received modified FOLFOX4 chemotherapy,44 cases were treated by DOF program.After two cycles of chemotherapy,the treatment effect and adverse reactions were evaluated.Results The total effectiveness in modified FOLFOX4 group and DOF group was 60％ (25/42) and 68％ (30/44) respectively (P ＞ 0.05).Tumor control rate was 83％ (35/42) and 89％ (39/44) respectively (P ＞ 0.05).The incidence of nausea,vomiting and leukopenia was higher in DOF group than modified FOLFOX4 group (P ＜ 0.05).The D2 lymph node dissection rate between modified FOLFOX4 group and DOF group was 80％ (20/25) and 87％ (26/30) respectively (P ＞ 0.05),the R0 resection rate was 72％ (18/25) and 83％ (25/30) respectively (P ＞ 0.05).In 43 R0 resection patients using FOLFOX4 the median survival time was 38.7 months,1-,3-year survival rate was 90％,and 60％ ; while that in DOF group the median survival time was 39.6 months,1-,3-year survival rate was 95％,and 75％.Multivariate analysis showed that postoperative TNM stage only was an independent risk factor for prognosis.Conclusions TNM stage was the independent risk factor for prognosis of gastric carcinoma patients after radical gastrectomy.

Objective To study the value of whole tumors T2WI gray histogram analysis for differential diagnosis of three commonly presented pediatric posterior fossa tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare brain MRI examination and pathology diagnosis of 133 cases of posterior fossa tumors in pediatric patients in our hospital.Among them, there were 49 cases of ependymoma(there were 25 males and 24 females), 36 cases of astrocytoma(WHO grade Ⅰ)(there were 19 males and 17 females), 48 cases of medulloblastoma(there were 36 males and 12 females),aged 1 to 14 years old, with an average (7±2) years old. Respectively draw the region of interest (ROI) in the T2 MR transaxial images of three groups on each layer of tumor level by using Mazda software and analyze the whole tumors gray histogram, including mean,variance, kurtosis,skewness, perc.01%,perc.10%,perc.50%,perc.90% and perc.99%.The histogram parameters of the three groups were not normally distributed. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the three groups. Bonferroni test was used to compare the two groups to find out statistical significance of each parameter. Results Through histogram analysis of 9 parameters, these 9 parameters were statistically significant (all P <0.05),including mean,variance,kurtosis,skewness, perc.01%,perc.10%,perc.50%,perc.90% and perc.99%. The sensitivity of skewness to differentiate ependymoma and the astrocytoma was 69.4％, the specificity was 77.8％, the area under the curve was 0.744, and the best cut-off value was-0.08. The sensitivity of kurtosis to differentiate astrocytoma and the medulloblastoma was 95.8％, the specificity was 97.2％ and the area under the curve was 0.972, the cut-off was 1.68. The sensitivity of kurtosis to differentiate ependymoma and the medulloblastoma was 91.7％, the specificity was 89.8％and the area under the curve was 0.932,the cut-off was 1.90.They had a high identification efficiency. Conclusions The T2WI gray histogram analysis based whole tumors is helpful for the dignosis of three types of pediatric posterior fossa tumors. Skewness has a high diagnostic efficiency to differentiate ependymoma and the astrocytoma. Kurtosis has a high diagnostic efficiency to differentiate ependymoma and the medulloblastoma. Kurtosis has a high diagnostic efficiency to differentiate ependymoma and medulloblastoma.

Objective To investigate dynamically characteristics of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the rabbit VX-2 tumor model.Methods Forty New Zealand rabbits were included in the study and forty-seven rabbit VX-2 tumor models were raised by implanting directly and intrahepatically after abdominal cavity was opened.DWI was carried out periodically and respectively on seventh,fourteenth,and twenty-first day after implantation.Part samples of VX-2 tumors were studied by pathology.The distinction of VX-2 tumors on DWI was assessed by their ADC values.The statistical significance between different time groups,different area groups,or different b-value groups was calculated using SPSS12.0 software,respectively.Results ADC values of 47 VX-2 tumors in the area of tumor periphery,tumor center,and normal parenchyma around tumor were greater when b-value was 100 s/mm2 than those when b-value was 300 s/mm2 and the distinction of VX-2 tumor ADC in the area of tumor periphery,tumor center,and normal parenchyma around tumor between different b-value groups was significant,respectively( F =17.964,P ＜0.01 ; F =13.986,P ＜0.01 ; F =128.681,P ＜0.01 ).The ADC values in the area of normal liver parenchyma around tumor were greater than those in the area of VX-2 tumor periphery and tumor center when the b-value was 100 or 300 s/mm2.When b-value was the same( 100 or 300 s/mm2),the distinction of VX-2 tumor ADC between different areas was significant( F =176.586,P ＜0.01 ; F =55.089,P ＜0.01 ).The ADC of VX-2 tumor in the area of tumor periphery and tumor center became gradually low from seventh to fourteenth or twenty-first day after implantation and the distinction of ADC between different time groups but the area same (?) was significant( b =100 s/mm2,F =48.211,P ＜0.01 ;b =300 s/mm2,F =20.955,P ＜0.01 ).There were not obvious cellular necrosis in VX-2 tumors on seventh and fourteenth day after implantation but ADC of VX-2 tumor decreased unobviously because of cellular edemata in or around tumors.There were obvious cellular necrotic areas in VX-2 tumors on the twenty-first day after implantation.ADC of viable tumor cells in VX-2 tumors were lower on DWI than that in the area of normal liver parenchyma around tumor and ADC of dead tumor cells in VX-2 tumors were unequal,including high values,equal values,and low values but they were higher than that in the area of normal liver parenchyma around tumor after dead tumor cells had been liquified or had become cystic.Conclusions ADC is able to reflect objectively the diffusion of water molecules in the tumor and to reflect indirectly the degree of the growth and liquified necrosis of a tumor.ADC has an important and potential value in monitoring dynamical tumor growth and in evaluating malignant degree and therapeutic effect.

ObjectiveTo investigate its dynamic characteristics and pathological mechanism on magnatic resonance diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) after chemoembolization in rabbit liver VX-2 tumor model.MethodsForty New Zealand rabbits were included in the study and forty-seven rabbit VX-2 tumor models were raised by implanting directly and intrahepatically after abdominal cavity was opened.Forty VX-2 tumor models from them were divided into four groups.DWI was performed periodically and respectively for each group after chemoembolization.All VX-2 tumor samples of each group were studied by pathology.The distinction of VX-2 tumors on DWI was assessed by their apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values.The statistical significance between different time groups,different area groups,or different b-value groups was calculated using SPSS 12.0 software.ResultsWhen b-value was 100 s/mm2,ADC values in the area of VX-2 tumor periphery,VX-2 tumor central,or normal liver parenchyma around tumor became gradually low in sixteen hours after chemoembolization,and were the lowest at sixteenth hour,and then they increased gradually from sixteenth hour to fourty-eighth hour after chemoembolization.The distinction of ADC between different time groups was significant,respectively ( F =7.325,P ＜ 0.01 ; F =2.496,P ＜ 0.05 ; F =6.856,P ＜0.01 ).Cellular edema in the area of VX-2 tumor periphery or normal liver parenchyma around tumor increased quickly in sixteen hours after chemoembolization; however,from sixteenth hour to forty-eighth hour,cellular edema in the area of normal liver parenchyma around tumor decreased gradually and that in the area of VX-2 tumor periphery decreased lightly at first and then increased continually.Cellular necrosis in the area of VX-2 tumor periphery after chemoembolization was more significant than that before chemoembolization.The areas of dead cells in VX-2 tumors manifested low signal and high ADC value while the areas of viable cells manifested high signal and low ADC value.ConclusionsDWI is able to detect and discriminate tumor necrotic areas from viable cellular areas before and after chemoembolization.ADC of normal liver parenchyma and VX-2 tumor are influenced by intracellular edema,tissue cellular death,and microcirculation disturbance after chemoembolization.

Ginger mainly contains two main categories of volatile and non-volatile components,of which the non-volatile gingerol is a general term for pungent substances in ginger,mainly containing gingerols,shogaols and other components,with a wide range of pharmacological effects.By reviewing the 2020 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and related literature in Chinese databases such as CNKI and Wanfang,it was found that the use of the Chinese names of gingerols and shogaols was confusing,which caused certain troubles to readers and obstacles to academic exchanges.According to the naming principles of Chinese medicinal extracts,it is suggested that gingersols,6-gingerol,8-gingerol and 10-gingerol should be uniformly named as gingerols(姜酚类),6-gingerol(6-姜酚),8-gingerol(8-姜酚)and 10-gingerol(10-姜酚),respectively,and shogaols and 6-shogaol should be uniformly named as shogaols(姜烯酚类)and 6-shogaols(6-姜烯酚).The standardized use of the Chinese names of gingerols and shogaols will facilitate in-depth research and academic exchange on ginger,dried ginger,baked ginger and other ginger herbal medicines.

Objective To study the value of whole tumors volume based apparent diffusion coefficient histogram analysis in grading diagnosis of ependymoma. Methods Seventy?one patients with ependymal tumors were retrospectively analyzed, including 13 cases of WHOⅠ, 28 cases of WHOⅡ, 30 cases of WHO Ⅲ. Regions of interest (ROI) in the apparent diffusion coefficient maps of three groups on each layer of tumor level were drawn by using MaZda software and were analyzed using the whole tumors gray histogram. The histogram parameters of the three groups all fitted the normal distribution and homogeneity test of variance. The ANOVA analysis was used to compare the three groups. LSD-t test was used to compare the two groups to find out statistical significance of each parameter. Results Through histogram analysis of 9 parameters, three parameters were statistically significant (P<0.05), including variance, perc. 01％ and perc. 10％. The remaining 6 parameters had no significant difference between the three groups (P>0.05). Between the WHOⅠand the WHOⅡ, the sensitivity of perc.10％was 85.7％, the specificity was 87.7％, the area under the curve was 0.835, and the best cut-off value was 131.33. Between the WHOⅠand the WHOⅢ, the sensitivity of perc.10％was 85.7％, the specificity was 100.0％, the area under the curve was 0.872, and the cut-off was 126.5.Between the WHOⅡand the WHOⅢ, the sensitivity of variance was 68.4％, the specificity was 79.6％, the area under the curve was 0.794, and the cut-off was 2645.7. They had a high identification efficiency. Conclusion Whole-tumor histogram analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient maps could provide ancillary diagnostic value in grading diagnosis of ependymoma. Perc.10％and variance had a high diagnostic efficiency.

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether whole-tumor histogram-based analysis of readout-segmented echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging (RESOLVE-DWI) ADC map can help in the discrimination of parotid gland tumors(pleomorphic adenoma, Warthin tumor, malignant parotid gland tumor). Methods The MR images(pre / post-contrast enhanced MRI, RESOLVE-DWI, ADC map) of 47 patients with a biopsy-or surgery-proven pleomorphic adenomas, 25 patients with Warthin tumors and 36 patients with malignant parotid gland tumors were retrospectively analyzed. Histogram-based analysis was performed with the software MaZda. ROIs were drawn on every section of the ADC map containing the tumor, then 12 Parameters(Area, MinNorm, MaxNorm, Mean,Variance, Skewness, Kurtosis, Perc.1％, Perc.10％, Perc.50％, Perc.90％, Perc.99％) derived from histogram were calculated. Statistical analysis among the three groups (One-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test) were performed to find out the statistical significance of each histogram parameter. Then LSD test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for pairwise comparison between groups. And the differential efficiency of each parameter was determined using ROC analysis. Results Overall, 9 parameters (MinNorm, MaxNorm, Mean, Variance, Skewness, Perc. 10％, Perc. 50％, Perc. 90％, Perc. 99％) among three groups were shown to be statistically significant (P<0.05). Between the pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin tumors, these 9 parameters were of statistical significance. Perc.50％revealed the highest diagnostic efficiency, followed by Mean and Perc.10％. Between the pleomorphic adenomas and malignant parotid gland tumors, also all these 9 parameters were of statistical significance. Mean was revealed to have the highest diagnostic efficiency, followed by Perc. 10％ and Perc. 90％. However, between the Warthin tumors and malignant parotid gland tumors, only 5 parameters (MinNorm, Mean, Skewness, Perc. 10％, Perc. 50％) were statistically significant. MinNorm was revealed to have the highest diagnostic efficiency, followed by Perc. 50％ and Perc. 10％. Generally, Mean, Perc. 10％ and Perc. 50％ were more effective in the differential diagnosis of these three types common parotid neoplasms. Conclusion Whole-tumor histogram analysis of ADC maps are effective in differentiating common parotid neoplasms.

Objective:To explore the value of machine learning models based on MRI predict the brain age of smokers and healthy controls, and further to explore the relationship between smoking and brain aging.Methods:This was a retrospective study. Dataset 1 consisted of 95 male smokers [20-50 (34±7) years old] and 49 healthy controls [20-50 (33±7) years old] recruited from August 2014 to October 2017 in First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Dataset 2 contained 114 healthy male volunteers [20-50 (34±11) years old] from the Southwestern University Adult Imaging Database from 2010 to 2015. All subjects underwent high-resolution 3D T 1WI scan. Gaussian process regression (GPR) model and support vector machine model were constructed to predict brain age based on structural MR images of healthy controls in dataset 1 and dataset 2. After the performance of the model was verified by the cross-validation method, the mean absolute error (MAE) between the predicted brain age and the actual age and the correlation ( r-value) between the actual age and the predicted brain age were calculated, and the best model was finally selected. The best models were applied to smokers and healthy controls to predict brain age. Finally, a general linear model was used to compare the differences in brain-predicted age difference (PAD) between smokers and healthy controls with age, taking years of education and total intracranial volume as covariates. Result:The performance of GPR model (MAE=5.334, r=0.747) in predicting brain age was better than support vector machine model (MAE=6.040, r=0.679). The GPR model predicted that PAD value of smokers in dataset 1 (2.19±6.64) was higher than that of healthy controls in dataset 1 (-0.80±8.94), and the difference was statistically significant ( F=8.52, P=0.004). Conclusion:GPR model based MRI has better performance in predicting brain age in smokers and healthy controls, and smokers show increased PAD values, further indicating that smoking accelerates brain aging.