Objective Todeterminetherelationshipbetweenthetumorvolumeoftheperipherallungadenocarcinomawith maximum diameter≤3cmandlymphnodemetastasis(LNM).Methods TheMSCTmanifestationsof235subjectswhowerediagnosedasperipheral lungadenocarcinomawithmaximumdiameter≤3cm wereretrospectivelyanalyzed.Thesepatientsweregroupedaccordingtodifferent parametersincludingsmokinghistory,differentiation,tumorconsistencyandavailabilityoftumornecrosis.Tumorvolumeandratesof LNMamongthesegroupswerecompared.ROCanalysiswasusedtocalculatethecut-offvalueanddiagnosticaccuracy.Results (1) ThetumorvolumeofLNMgroupwaslargerthanthatofnoLNMgroup,cut-offvaluewas5.5cm3,andAUCwas0.76;(2)Therates ofLNMofthewell,moderate-well,moderate,moderate-poorandpoordifferentiationgroupswere0%,8.7%,17.7%,45.6%and46.7%respectively.Theratesofpuregroundglassopacity(p-GGO),mixedandsolidtumorwere0%,8.3%and29.3%respectively.The ratesofthetumorpresentandabsentofnecrosiswere47.8%,22.0%respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusion Usingthevolumeoftumor on MSCTtopredictLNMisanewnon-invasivewayofassessingLNM,withhighsensitivityandspecificity,whichcouldsupplymore imaginginformationforsurgeonstochoosethewayoflymphnodedissection.

Objective: To clinically validate the feasibility and accuracy of cine images acquired through the multitasking method, with no electrocardiogram gating and free-breathing, in measuring left ventricular (LV) function indices by comparing them with those acquired through the balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) method, with multiple breath-holds and electrocardiogram gating. Materials and Methods: Forty-three healthy volunteers (female:male, 30:13; mean age, 23.1 ± 2.3 years) and 36 patients requiring an assessment of LV function for various clinical indications (female:male, 22:14; 57.8 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the multiple breath-hold bSSFP method and free-breathing multitasking method. LV function parameters were measured for both MRI methods. Image quality was assessed through subjective image quality scores (1 to 5) and calculation of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between the myocardium and blood pool. Differences between the two MRI methods were analyzed using the Bland–Altman plot, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as appropriate. Results: LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly different between the two MRI methods (P = 0.222 in healthy volunteers and P = 0.343 in patients). LV end-diastolic mass was slightly overestimated with multitasking in both healthy volunteers (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 60.5 ± 10.7 g vs. 58.0 ± 10.4 g, respectively; P < 0.001) and patients (69.4 ± 18.1 g vs. 66.8 ± 18.0 g, respectively; P = 0.003). Acceptable and comparable image quality was achieved for both MRI methods (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.6 ± 0.6, respectively; P = 0.203). The CNR between the myocardium and blood pool showed no significant differences between the two MRI methods (18.89 ± 6.65 vs. 18.19 ± 5.83, respectively; P = 0.480). Conclusion Multitasking-derived cine images obtained without electrocardiogram gating and breath-holding achieved similar image quality and accurate quantification of LVEF in healthy volunteers and patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of an intelligent aerobic bicycle training on lower limb motor function, cardiopulmonary function and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with ischemic stroke at different courses. MethodsFrom November, 2019 to November, 2021, 138 ischemic stroke patients were stratified-randomly divided into control group (n = 69) and experimental group (n = 69). All the patients received medication and routine rehabilitation training, and the experimental group additionally received intelligent aerobic bicycle training, for eight weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremities (FMA-LE), peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), Six-minute Walk Test (6MWT) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before, and four weeks and eight weeks after treatment. ResultsThe performances of FMA-LE, VO₂peak, 6MWT and MBI improved in both groups after treatment (|t| > 6.763, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.439, P < 0.05). For the patients beginning training less than one month after stroke, the performances of FMA-LE, VO₂peak and 6MWT improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.036, P < 0.05); for those during one to three months, the performances of 6MWT and MBI improved more (|t| > 2.005, P < 0.05); for those during three to six months, the performances of all the tests were not significantly different (|t| < 1.303, P > 0.05). ConclusionIntelligent aerobic bicycle training may improve the lower limb motor function, cardiopulmonary function and ADL for patients with ischemic stroke, especially intervening earlier.

Metastasis is an important factor for the high recurrence and mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important mechanism of HCC metastasis. EMT is regulated by the transcription factors such as Snail, Twist, and ZEB which are mediated by a variety of signaling pathways including TGF-β, Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch. Inhibition of EMT-related molecules and signal pathways in HCC is considered as an important approach to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of HCC. Recent studies have shown that a variety of compound traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula or their effective constituents can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of HCC by arresting or reversing EMT in HCC. This article reviews the role and mechanism of EMT and recent studies on TCM drugs and their derived natural compounds in inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of HCC by regulating cell EMT, so as to provide a scientific basis for the TCM prevention and treatment of HCC metastasis and new ideas for HCC treatment.

ObjectiveTo visually analyze the current status, hot spots and frontiers of the researches on transcranial magnetic stimulation for stroke in recent five years. MethodsLiterature related to transcranial magnetic stimulation for stroke were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022, and a visualized analysis was performed using CiteSpace 6.1.R6 software. ResultsThe number of published papers increased year by year, the most prolific author was Abo Masahiro, the country with the largest number of articles was China, and Sun Yat-sen University published the most papers. The hot keywords were cerebral cortex, functional magnetic resonance imaging, cortical excitability, plasticity, etc. The top five keywords of bursting strength were unilateral spatial neglect, poststroke, neuropathic pain, cortical plasticity, and trancallosal inhibition. ConclusionThe popularity of studies on transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of stroke is increasing year by year. In the future, attention can be paid to the therapeutic effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on unilateral spatial neglect, neuropathic pain, etc. Additionally, the influence of transcranial magnetic stimulation on cortical plasticity can be further studied.

ObjectiveTo analyse the current implementation status of Chinese herbal medicine （CHM） placebo and systematically evaluate the placebo effect in randomised controlled trials （RCTs） of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） for the treatment of functional dyspepsia （FD）. MethodsA combination of medical subject terms and free words was used to search six databases， including PubMed， EMBASE， Cochrane Library， Web of Science， China National Knowledge Infrastructure， and Wanfang， for RCTs with CHM placebo group for FD published from January 31st， 1994 to September 30th， 2023. The dosage forms， composition， and methodological quality were collected and evaluated. The quality of the included articles was evaluated by Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool， and meta-analysis was performed on the CHM placebo response rate of patients with FD， and subgroup analysis and meta-regression was performed according to diagnostic criteria， efficacy criteria， duration of treatment， type of placebo， whether it contained active ingredient， and whether it evaluated placebo effects. ResultsA total of 34 publications were included involving 5046 participants， of which 2221 FD patients received CHM placebo treatment. Granules were the predominant placebo preparation， accounting for 71% （24/34）； 32.35% （11/34） of the studies added real CHM to the placebo， and only 12 （35%） of the studies described appearance， odour， and taste. The placebo response rate in FD patients in the placebo group was 41% （95% CI： 0.35 to 0.47； P＜0.01， I² = 87%）； there was significant difference between groups with different diagnostic criteria and different treatment durations （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， but there was no significant difference between the different efficacy evaluation criteria， the different placebo preparation， the presence of a low-dose active ingredient， and the presence or absence of placebo assessment （P＞0.05）. ConclusionThere was a significant CHM placebo effect in patients with FD， with granules as the main preparation of placebop. Different diagnostic criteria and different treatment times may affect the response rate of patients， and the addition of low-dose real medicine to the CHM placebos has not been seen to have an effect on the response rate. Clinical investigators have not paid enough attention to placebos， and there is a lack of uniform standards and norms for the preparation and evaluation of CHM placebos.