MRI is a powerful noninvasive imaging tool. Multispectral MRI sequences have been validated to characterize atherosclerotic plaque components, size, thickness and vulnerable plaque in animals and humans. Developments of intravascular MRI (IVMRI) may play an important role in this regard. MRI contrast agents may identify inflammation and thrombus within atherosclerotic plaque. MRI has progressed to be used in serial studies of atherosclerotic plaque progression and regression in the face of therapeutic intervention.

Initial studies suggested a low prevalence of nodal metastases in T1 lung cancer.However,several recent studies have reported a relatively high prevalence of mediastinal lymph node metastases.The extrathoracic metastases in T1 lung cancer differs widely(0%-24%).In this article,we discuss the thinsection CT and FDG-PET findings in T1 non-small cell lung cancer and also discuss the correlation of CT findings with prognosis and survival,the correlation between tumor size and survival,and extrathoracic metastasis of T1 lung cancer.

Computed radiography(CR) is a relatively new concept. The main advantage is the significant reduction of defect of radiography. It provides a more complete anatomic definition and display images to assist the radiologist. The technique can improve target definition and characterization. Such systems allow projection radiology to have the advantages of other digital techniques, including electronic storage, electronic retrieval, transmission over digital networks, and digital image processing. The CR technique, when implemented for multiple room use, can be an economical way to implement digital radiography on a large scale. This represents a potential advantage of CR. We believe that use of CR may be a practical and valuable tool for improving imaging quality where financial resources are limited, and CR is likely to supplant screen-film radiography at many medical imaging centers over the next decade.

Objective To discuss CT features of ileocecum lymphoma.Methods All 12 patients with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL)proved by surgery and pathology had CT scanning.Results CT findings of 12 cases with NHL were as follows:①Diffuse thickness of cecal wall(9 cases).Five cases among them appeared transverse"8"sign when the lesions involved the ileocecal valve and the terminal ileum.②Focal convex mass of ceacal wall(3 cases).③Medium enhancement of the lesions.④Enlarged lymph nodes(10 cases)around lesions or in mesentery and retroperitoneum.Conclusion CT could clearly display the morphological findings and extension of ileocecum lymphoma and show enlarged lymph nodes.

0.05), whereas the mean difference on the portal vein contrast enhanced phase was statistically greater than that on the hepatic artery contrast enhanced phase or delayed phase ( P

Objective To evaluate the interstital MR lymphography using positive lymphotropic contrast agent for differentiation of metastatic lymph nodes from inflammatory lymph nodes hyperplasm.Methods Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits weighted at 2.0-2.5 kg were used.Inflammatory hyperplastic popliteal lymph node model was established in 9 rabbits by injection of complete freund adjuvant into the interdigitial skin of the dorsal aspect of one hind leg,and tumor-bearing popliteal lymph node model was established in another 9 rabbits by injection of VX~2 tumor cell suspension.The popliteal lymph nodes of another hind leg of all 18 rabbits were assigned to the normal contral group.In each group,every rabbit underwent MR lymphography examination before and after the inoculation.Volumes of 0.2 ml of Gd[DTPA-bis(2-aminoethoxy)ethane]polymeric contrast agent(Gd-poly-DTPA-EOEA)injection were injected subcutaneously into the dorsal feet of both hind legs of two groups of rabbits.T_1-weighted 3D gradient-echo images were obtained,and source images were used to reconstruct images of MIP before and after the administration of agent.The maximum short-axis diameter(MSAD)of each popliteal lymph node was measured on the enhanced 3D MIP images,and the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)measurement was performed in the largest popliteal node of each rabbit at each time point in delayed scan.Independentsamples t test was used to compare the sizes of popliteal nodes in MSADs between inflammatorily hyperplastic and tumor-bearing nodes after the inoculation,and the values of SNRs of popliteal nodes at each time point between inflammatorily hyperplastic,tumor-bearing and normal popliteal lymph nodes.Imaging results of the popliteal nodes were analyzed and correlated with pathological findings.Results All of the rabbits were successfully inoculated except of the 2 rabbits in tumor-bearing nodal group.The size in MSAD of 13 inflammatorily hyperplastic and 11 tumor-bearing nodes was(1.32±0.14)and(1.33±0.12)cm,respectively.There was no significant statistical difference between the sizes of the two groups(t=0.186,P＞0.05).At the time of 5,15,30,60,90,120 minutes after the injection of the agent,the value of SNR of 9 inflammatorily hyperplastic and 9 contralateral normal nodes was 17.31±0.37 and 17.19±0.29,27.42±0.50 and 27.39±0.48,38.44±0.47 and 38.19±0.27,37.10±0.09 and 36.97±0.10,36.32±0.61 and 36.20±0.80,34.60±0.44 and 34.71±0.32,respectively.There was no significant statistical difference between the values of the two groups(t=0.78,0.14,1.43,1.00,0.36,-0.62,respectively,P＞0.05).The value of SNR of seven tumor-bearing and seven contralateral normal nodes was 6.00±0.22 and 17.21±0.28,7.87±0.16 and 27.17±0.23,8.14±0.24 and 38.16±0.19,8.09±0.28 and 36.94±0.30,7.59±0.20 and 35.96±0.72,7.50±0.14 and 34.81±0.27,respectively.There was significant statistical difference between the values of the two groups(t=-84.00,-182.72,-261.27,-186.48,-100.22,-239.00,respectively,P＜0.01).At each time point,inflammatorily hyperplastic nodes had significantly higher values of SNRs compared to tumor-bearing nodes(t=83.97,174.07,158.49,152.71,96.06,154.57,respectively,P＜0.01).A complete or part signal filling defect occurred in the tumor-bearing lymph node on the MR lymphographic images.Conclusions The internal anatomy and function of the lymph nodes were effectively visualized by interstitial MR lymphography with positive lymphotropic contrast agent,which provide a sensitively diagnostic way for the differentiation of benign lymph nodes from malignant ones.

The genetic indentification of 16S rDNA or ITS, capability of phosphate-solubilization and pH of medium, and optimization of medium of some microorganism isolated from mangrove were investigated in this study. The result showed that the fungi normally had much higher capacity to dissolve the inorganic phosphate than the bacteria, the capacity of the fungi was closely correlated to the pH of medium, but the relationship was weak for the bacteria. It was illustrated by single factor experiments that the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources were maltose and urea respectively. The orthogonal design was employed in testing the optimum composition of medium composed of 5 g/L maltose, 0.05 g/L urea, 5 g/L NaCl, pH 5. In this optimal medium, the effectively enrichment of bacteria could reach up to 6.06?109 CFU/mL under 30?C for 48 hours cultivation.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)in China is about 9.1%.Compared with healthy adults, life expectancy for patients with T2DM at 60 years of age can be cut short by 7.3-9.5 years and time for a good quality of life by 11.1-13.8 years.It is important for elderly patients with T2DM to stay functionally active.Frailty, as a common geriatric syndrome, is an important factor affecting the functional status of the elderly, a strong predictor for disability, death and hospitalization, and also a strong predictor for adverse health outcomes in elderly patients with T2DM.This article reviews the relationship between frailty/sarcopenia and T2DM, and the management and treatment of elderly T2DM patients with frailty/sarcopenia.

Objective To assess the feasibility of characterizing pleural fluid on the basis of spectral imaging features utilizing spectral CT imaging. Methods Gemstone spectral imaging(GSI) was used to examine 20 pleural fluids filled tubes (11 exudates and 9 transudates ) following diagnostic thoracentesis. Effusions were classified as transudates or exudates using laboratory markers based on Light criteria. CT values on 140 kVp QC image were compared between two groups. Using GSI viewer, various CT spectral imaging parameters (CT values on different energy level, effective-Z, iodine-water concentration,calcium-water concentration and calcium-fat concentration ) were calculated and compared between two groups. The difference of these spectral characteristic parameters was evaluated statistically by independent-samples t test. Results According to Light criteria, the mean CT value on QC image of exudates [ ( 19. 56 ±4. 10) HU ] was higher than that of transudates [ ( 13.44 ±3.46) HU] (t =3.002,P =0. 010).Difference of CT value was found more obvious in the lower keV. On 40 keV images, the difference of CT value of two groups was the largest, the mean value of exudates [ (47.49 ± 14. 60) HU ] was significantly higher than that of transudates[ ( 19. 76 ± 6. 85) HU ] ( t = 5.520, P = 0. 000). While On 140 keV, the mean CT value were (9.76 ±4. 16)and (6.22 ±3. 17) HU and the difference of the two group has no statistically significant difference (t =2. 107,P =0. 050). The mean slope rates of exudates (0.51 ± 0.23)was significantly larger than that of transudates (0. 18 ± 0. 08 ) ( t= 4. 287, P = 0. 001 ). The effective-Z (7. 89 ± 0. 16), iodine-water concentration [ (5. 74 ± 1.28 ) g/L], calcium-water concentration[ (7. 89 ±1.78) g/L] and calcium-fat concentration [ (25.95 ± 1.74) g/L] of exudates were significantly higher than those of transudates [ 7.67 ± 0. 07, ( 1.70 ± 0. 95 ) g/L, (2. 53 ± 1.37 ) g/L, ( 20. 82 ± 1.40 ) g/L ] ( t = 4. 080,6. 998,6. 546,6. 301 ,P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusions The spectral curve and spectral imaging parameters of exudates is found to be different from transudates. The low energy spectral imaging plays an important role in the characterization of pleural fluid. Gemstone spectral CT imaging provides a new multiparameter method to differentiate transudates and exudates.

OBJECTIVETo detect numerical chromosomal aberrations and copy number variations (CNVs) in abortus tissue samples with a benchtop semiconductor sequencing platform (SSP).

METHODSOne hundred and forty patients with early spontaneous abortions at between 7 and 16 weeks were selected. Following DNA extraction, library preparation, high-throughput sequencing was carried out.

RESULTSChromosomal anomalies were detected in 82 cases (58.57%), which included 67 aneuploidies and 15 CNVs. Trisomies 16, 21, 22, and X/Y were the most common. A significant difference was found in the anomaly rates between women <35 and ≥35 years old (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe SSP platform can detect chromosomal aneuploidies and CNVs among abortus tissues. Numerical chromosomal aberration is the main cause of early spontaneous abortion, and advance maternal age is a high risk factor for chromosomal abnormality.