Objective To evaluate the significance of coronary calcification and stenosis in elderly hypertensive patients by 16-row multi-sliced computed tomography (MSCT) and its association with peripheral arterial atherosclerosis and other target organ damages. Methods Sixty-four patients with hypertension (n=50) 76.1?6.5 years and normotensions (n=14) 73.4?6.8 years were enrolled. All patients underwent coronary calcification scan by MSCT and the coronary calcification score(CCS) was calculated as AJ130 and Volume. Fourty-four patients in the hypertensive group were subjected to MSCT enhanced scan for evaluation of coronary stenosis. Intima media thickness (IMT), atherosclerotic and calcified plaques in carotid and femoral arteries and ankle-brachial index (ABI) carotid and femoral arteries were measured by echosonography and echocardiography; Fasting plasma blood glucose, blood lipid series, insulin, HOMA-IR, hsCRP and morning urine albumin were determined. Results (1) Both AJ130 and Volume of left anterior descending artery(LAD), left circumflex artery(LCX) and the total calcification score were higher in the hypertensive group than those in the control group (P

To intensify the medical students'clinical skills training is the main objective of medical imaging education. In the process of clinical teaching ,we have adopted many means including renewed multimedia courseware,teaching web page,film storage,and integration of various teaching methods. The film-reading skill of medical students has greatly increased.

MLN4924 can inhibit the proliferation,invasion and metastasis of tumor by inducing tumor cells apoptosis,senescence and autophagy,which can inhibit tumor angiogenesis and enhance the sensitivity of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Therefore,MLN4924 plays a good anti-tumor effect.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of CT perfusion imaging in assessing the hemodynamic changes in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (<5 cm) before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods Twelve patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled in this study. CT perfusion imaging of the liver was performed 1 - 2 days before and 3 - 4 weeks after TACE. By using the perfusion parameters the hemodynamics of the preoperative and postoperative tumor tissue, the hemodynamics of the preoperative tumor tissue and the normal tissue, and the hemodynamics of the postoperative active tumor tissue and the normal tissue were determined , and the results were compared between each other. Results Before TACE, the blood flow (BF), hepatic arterial fraction (HAF), hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) and permeability of surface (PS) in the tumor tissue were significantly higher than those in the normal tissue (P < 0.01), while after TACE all the perfusion parameters except blood volume (BV) were significantly decreased in the tumor tissue (P < 0.01). After TACE, BF, PS, HAF and HAP in the activity tumor tissue were increased more than those in the normal tissue (P < 0.05). Conclusion CT perfusion imaging is of great clinical value in diagnosing < 5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma , in evaluating the hemodynamic changes after TACE and in demonstrating the activity of the residual tumor tissue.

Objective To evaluate maximum intensity projection(MIP) images and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) values of MR diffusion weighted imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) on pulmonary diseases.Methods Sixty-one patients with pulmonary diseases underwent DWIBS.The findings in three dimensional(3D) MIP image were observed and the ADC values of diseased region were measured.The diagnostic value of DWIBS on pulmonary diseases was evaluated.Results Lung cancer and inflammatory disease were all demonstrated as dense intensity area on DWIBS.The mean ADC value of central lung cancer was (1.05±0.23)×10-3 mm2/s.The mean ADC value of peripheral lung cancer was(1.10±0.17)×10-3 mm2/s.The mean ADC value of the inflammatory disease was(1.69±0.29)×10-3 mm2/s.The mean ADC value had significant difierence between peripheral lung cancer and the inflammatory disease (P＜0.05). The MR sensitivity,specificity and accuracy in diagnosing the pulmonary diseases with DWIBS(86.84%,82.60%,85.24%,respectively) was higher than conventional MRI(78.94%,78.26%,and 78.68%,respectively).Conclusion DWIBS can demonstrate clearly the lesion's shape with 3D display.The quantitative measurement of ADC values iS feasible.DWIBS may be a potential diagnostic method for differentiation on pulmonary diseases.

Objectives To investigate the clinical significance of dual energy spectral CT (DESCT) in quantitatively differentiating peripheral lung cancers from pulmonary inflammatory masses.Methods Sixty patients with 35 lung cancers and 25 inflammatory masses underwent DESCT to get arterial phase (AP) images and venous phase (VP) images.Iodine concentrations in the central and peripheral zone of the masses were measured and normalized to the aorta as normalised iodine concentration (NIC).The difference of NIC between central and peripheral zone of the masses (dNIC) was calculated.The spectral attenuation curve was obtained automatically and the slope of curve (λHU) was also calculated in the two groups.The quantitative parameters was presented as M (Q1,Q3),and Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare above two independent samples.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to calculate the sensitivity and specificity.Results NICs in the central zone of peripheral lung cancers were significantly lower than that of inflammatory masses:mean NICs were 0.03 (0,0.05) versus 0.12 (0.07,0.20) in AP,and 0.14 (0.12,0.19) versus 0.30 (0.21,0.57) in VP (Z=-4.14,-3.70,respectively,P＜0.01).While the dNIC values of lung cancers were significantly higher than that of inflammatory masses:dNIC values were 0.08 (0.05,0.11) versus 0.04 (-0.02,0.08) in AP,and 0.23 (0.17,0.34)versus 0.07 (-0.04,0.08) in VP(Z=-2.56,-4.00,respectively,P＜0.05).Mean λHU values of lung cancers were also lower than inflammatory masses:1.03 (0.67,1.67)versus 2.75 (1.61,3.19) in AP,and 1.58 (1.30,2.17) versus 3.25 (2.37,4.54) in VP (Z=-3.90,-4.42 respectively,P＜0.01).According to ROC curves,cutoff value of λHU =2.11 in VP had the highest sensitivity (89％) and specificity (91％) in differentiating peripheral lung cancers from inflammatory masses.Conclusions Contrast-enhanced dual energy spectral CT imaging with some quantitative parameters such as normalised iodine concentration,dNIC,and the slope of spectral attenuation curves may be a promising new method for differentiating peripheral lung cancers from inflammatory masses.

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of CT spectral imaging using quantitative iodine-based material decomposition images in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism. Methods Fifty-three patients underwent CT angiography with spectral imaging mode on a GE Discovery CT750HD scanner. Iodine distribution in the lung parenchyma using the iodine-based material decomposition images was quantitatively measured by post-processing. Monochromatic CT angiographic images were reconstructed from the same data sets and thee images were reviewed for the identification and localization of pulmonary embolism as well as the degree ( partial or complete) of the embolic occlusion. The number and location of perfusion defects were recorded. The iodine content of perfusion defects and normal lung parenchyma on the iodine maps were measured by one reader using an ROI analysis. Comparative analyses were obtained using the Chi-square test for categorical data. Two independent samples rank test and 2 related samples signed-rank test were used to compare iodine densities between different groups. Results CT angiography showed no pulmonary embolism in 33 patients, and iodine distribution was homogeneous. A total of 93 clots with lobar ( n = 26), segmental (n = 54) and sub-segmental (n=13) distribution were detected in 19 patients; Fifty-one clots were occlusive and 42 clots were non-occlusive. The iodine-based material decomposition images of all occlusive clots showed lobar, segmental or sub-segmental iodine distribution defects; whereas eleven of 42 non-occlusive clots had evidence of iodine distribution defects. There was significant difference ( x2 = 39. 94,P＜0. 01 ) in the perfusion defects between occlusive and non-occlusive clots. There was a significant difference in iodine content between normal lung parenchyma [ (1.92 ±0. 54) g/L] and perfusion defects [ (0. 30 ± 0. 20)g/L] (Z= -5.63, P ＜ 0. 01 ). There was a significant difference in the iodine content of peffusion defects before [ (0. 26 ± 0. 23 )g/L] and after anticoagulation [ (0. 94 ± 0. 50 )g/L ] ( Z = -3.93,P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion With the ability of iodine mapping, CT spectral imaging is areliable method in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism both qualitatively and quantitatively, and may be a useful tool in providing information regarding the severity of PE and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.

Discipline of medical imaging has developed very quickly,which play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and treatment of clinical disease.According to the characteristics of medical imaging disciplines,we launched reform on teaching management,teaching methods,course content,teacher training and modes of teaching,examing and researching in an aim to improve medical imaging education standards.

OBJECTIVETo segment veins from brain susceptibility weighted images with inhomogeneous background and veins, noises and complex structures.

METHODSBased on vessel enhancing filtering, an adaptive threshold segmenting method and an adaptive threshold region growing method were proposed. The former method was used to exactly segment part of veins from the original images. Taking the veins segmented by the former method as seeds, the later method was used to extract nearly all the veins.

RESULTSFor simulation data with serious noises and interferences, correct rate above 90% was achieved. And for clinical data, the veins were extracted accurately and the structures of veins were displayed clearly.

CONCLUSIONSThe methods can extract veins from the brain susceptibility weighted images exactly and avoid false segmentation of the other structures effectively. The methods are very robust and stable.

Background:Esophagogastric variceal bleeding is a severe and commonly seen complication of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis. Prevention of rebleeding remains an important issue in the management of patients suffered from the disease. Aims:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization(PTVE) combined with partial splenic embolization(PSE)for treatment of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods:Ten liver cirrhosis patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding were prospectively selected and treated by PTVE combined with PSE. The blood flow of portal system was measured by Doppler ultrasonography pre- and post-operatively;meanwhile peripheral blood cells were counted. A 1-2-year follow-up was carried out and the rebleeding and procedure-related complications were recorded. Results:The postoperative inner diameter of main portal vein,as well as the blood flow velocity of main portal vein and splenic vein were significantly reduced as compared with those before operation(P < 0. 05). Three months after operation,the peripheral white blood cell and platelet were still significantly higher than those before operation(P < 0. 05). During 1-year follow-up,rebleeding appeared in 2 patients,one of them was found having main portal vein thrombosis developed,and was treated by endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation because the gastric varices was not as evident as ever. The rebleeding rate and incidence of portal system thrombosis after the PTVE-PSE procedure was 20. 0% and 10. 0%,respectively. Conclusions:PTVE combined with PSE seemed efficient for alleviating portal hypertension,and might be recommended as a safe and effective interventional therapy for liver cirrhosis patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding.