Aim To investigate the effects of monocrotaline pyrrole on production of nitric oxide and expression of eNOS protein of cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells and on contractility of cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.Methods DAF-2 fluorescence technique was used to determine NO level,Western blot analysis was performed to determine the level of eNOS protein,and collagen gel contraction system was adopted to analyze muscle contractility.Results NO production induced by ACh and expression of eNOS protein were obviously inhibited by monocrotaline pyrrole compared with those of control group and gel contraction area in MCTP-treated cells induced by Thapsigargin obviously decreased.Conclusions monocrotaline pyrrole could inhibit the level of the ACh-induced production of NO and expression of eNOS protein,and enhance the contractility of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells,which may be one of the possible mechanisms of MCTP-induced pulmonary artery hypertension.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of three dimensional MRI (3D-MRI) based on compressed sensing (CS) in knee joint imaging and its value in assessing meniscal injuries. Methods: Knee MRI were performed on 26 patients with suspected knee injury (injured group) and 30 healthy volunteers (control group). Conventional fat saturation proton density-weighted imaging (fsPDWI) and CS-3D-MRI were collected. The results of arthroscopy of injured group were recorded. MRI of the right knee were obtained in control group, then CS-3D-MRI were reconstructed with 3 different denosing (DS) levels (CS-DSweak, CS-DSmedium, CS-DSstrong), and the sagittal image quality was evaluated subjectively and objectively. Patients in injured group received MRI before arthroscopy. CS-3D-MRI of injured group were reconstructed with CS-DSmedium, and the consistency of CS-3D-MRI diagnostic results with those of arthroscopy was analyzed. Results: For images of control group, there was no statistical difference of the quality scores of reconstructed CS images of different DS levels and fsPDWI (Z=0.35, P=0.32), while statistically significant differences of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were found in images obtained with 4 different sequences (F=36.01, 9.62, both P<0.05), and SNR of CS-DSstrong images was the highest (P<0.05). No significant difference of CNR in CS-DSmedium image and fsPDWI was found (P>0.05). CS-3D-MRI diagnosed meniscus injuries in all patients in injury group, highly consistent with results of arthroscopy (Kappa=0.94, P<0.01). Conclusion: Based on CS technique, 3D-MRI could be used for knee joint imaging, which was able to shorten scanning time on the premise of ensuring image quality, therefore had good value for evaluation on meniscus injuries.

Objective:To explore the optimal acceleration factor and feasibility of the compressed SENSE (CS) technique in non-contrast MR coronary angiography (NMRCA) for clinical practice.Methods:The image data of completed coronary CTA and 3.0 T NMRCA sequence in 31 patients with suspected coronary heart disease were prospectively recruited at Fuyang People′s Hospital from August 2021 to November 2021. NMRCA sequences included conventional SENSE2 sequence and CS sequences with acceleration factors of 4, 5, and 6, respectively. The subjective scores of image quality and the objective scores, the contrast ratios between assessed coronaries and myocardium (CMCR) were compared among the 4 groups using the Friedman and Wilcoxon rank sum test.Results:Compared with the conventional SENSE2 [(343±46)s], the scan time of CS4 (269±36), CS5 (214±29) and CS6 (178±26) s were shortened by 21.5%, 37.5% and 48.0%, respectively. There was a good consistency between the subjective scores of the four groups (Kappa=0.769, 95% Cl 0.738-0.800). There was no significant difference in subjective score and CMCR value between CS4 and SENSE2 ( P>0.05). The coronary artery segments of CS5 and CS6 were significantly different from SENSE2 group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:For 3.0 T NMRCA, CS technology shows high feasibility. The CS4 can reduce imaging time while ensuring high-quality coronary arterial images, which has a well-established clinical application value for NMRCA.

Purpose To investigate the clinical value of multi-center digital mammography radiomics nomogram model in predicting triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC).Materials and Methods The digital mammograms of 462 patients with pathologically confirmed breast cancer from November 2016 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed,including 243 cases from Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College(institution 1),106 cases from Fuyang People's Hospital(institution 2)and 113 cases from Taihe People's Hospital(institution 3).According to the results of immunohistochemistry,a total of 349 breast cancer patients in institution 1 and institution 2 were randomly divided into the training group(244 cases,including 41 TNBC and 203 non-TNBC)and the validation group(105 cases,including 18 TNBC and 87 non-TNBC)according to the ratio of 7∶3,113 breast cancer patients(24 TNBC and 89 non-TNBC)from institution 3 were included in the external validation group.Comparing the mediolateral oblique and cranial cauda digital mammography images,the mammography imaging with larger lesion areas were selected,and the image segmentation and radiomics feature extraction were performed.The radiomics model was constructed by using Logistic regression.The clinicopathological parameters and radiomics scores were used to construct a nomogram.Receiver operating characteristic and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the model performance.To compare The predictive performance between the models was compared.Results Finally,four radiomics features closely related to TNBC were selected to construct an radiomics model.The area under the curve,sensitivity and specificity of TNBC predicted by the radiomics model in training group,validation group and external test group were 0.868,90.24%and 72.91%,0.827,72.22%and 75.86%,0.837,70.83%and 78.65%,respectively.The area under the curve,sensitivity and specificity of TNBC predicted by the combined model in the training group,validation group and external test group were 0.903,80.49%and 86.70%,0.890,77.78%and 88.51%,0.870,62.50%and 85.39%,respectively.The combined model was better than the single image omics model in predicting TNBC,and the difference was statistically significant between the training group and the verification group(Z=2.061,2.064,both P<0.05),but not between the external test group(Z=1.223,P=0.221).In three group,decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram predicted a higher net benefit than the radiomics model for triple-negative breast cancer.Conclusion The radiomics model has high diagnostic efficiency in predicting TNBC,and the nomogram model combined with the radiomics score and histological grading can further improve the prediction efficiency.

BACKGROUND:There is no consensus on the optimal bone tunnel position in the lateral clavicle,which guides coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction.Postoperative complications such as enlargement of the lateral clavicle bone tunnel,bone osteolysis,clavicle fracture,and failure of internal fixation are likely to occur.Bone mass density plays an important role in the strength and stability of endophytic fixation.Regional differences in the bone mass density of the distal clavicle should not be overlooked in the repair and reconstruction of acromioclavicular dislocation.Currently,there are no quantitative clinical studies in humans regarding the bone mass density of the distal clavicle. OBJECTIVE:To measure the magnitude of bone mass density in different regions of the distal clavicle by quantitative CT to provide a reference for surgeons to repair and reconstruct the coracoclavicular ligament. METHODS:101 patients undergoing quantitative CT checking in Fuyang People's Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from October to December 2022 were enrolled,from which 1 616 samples of subdivisional bone mass density of the distal clavicle were measured.For each of the quantitative CT samples,firstly,the distal clavicle was divided medially to laterally into the following four regions:conical nodal region(region A),inter-nodal region(region B),oblique crest region(region C)and distal clavicular region(region D).Secondly,each region was divided into the first half and the second half to determine eight subdivisions,then setting semiautomatic region of interest(ROI)in each subdivision:(ROI A1,A2,B1,B2,C1,C2,D1,and D2).Thirdly,each quantitative CT scan was transferred to the quantitative CT pro analysis workstation,and cancellous bone mass density was measured in the distal clavicle ROI.Finally,the clavicular cortex was avoided when measuring. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no statistically significant difference in bone mineral density on the different sides of the shoulder(P＞0.05).(2)The analysis of bone mineral density in eight sub-areas of the distal clavicle A1,A2,B1,B2,C1,C2,D1,and D2 showed statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).It could be considered that there were differences in bone mineral density in different areas of the distal clavicle.After pairwise comparison,there was no statistically significant difference in bone mineral density between A1 and A2,D1 and D2,A2 and B1(P＞0.05),and there was a statistically significant difference in bone mineral density between the other sub-areas(P＜0.05).(3)The bone mineral density in the region A2 of the anatomical insertion of the conical ligament was significantly higher than that in the inter-nodular area(region B)(P＜0.05).The bone mineral density in the region A1 was higher than that in the region A2,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).The bone mineral density in the region C1 of the anatomical insertion of the trapezium ligament was higher than that in regions C2,D1 and D2,and the bone mineral density in the inter-nodular area(region B)was significantly higher than that in regions C and D(P＜0.05).(4)These results have suggested that there are differences in bone mass density in different regions of the distal clavicle;regional differences in bone mass density in the distal clavicle during repair and reconstruction of acromioclavicular dislocation cannot be ignored.Consideration should be given not only to biomechanical factors but also to the placement of implants or bone tunnels in regions of higher bone mass density,which could improve the strength and stability of implant fixation and reduce the risk of complications such as bone tunnel enlargement,osteolysis,fracture and implant failure.

Objective To explore the value of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid(Gd-EOB-DTPA)enhanced MRI T1 mapping,R2*quantitative parameters,and their combined indicators in assessing liver function in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis.Methods The data from 52 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI and modified Dixon quantification(mDixon-Quant)scans were analyzed retrospectively.Patients were divided into three groups based on Child-Pugh scores:Child-Pugh A,B,and C.T1 mapping images were obtained pre,mid,and HBP.Quantitative values of T1 relaxation time reduction rates(△T1 mid and △T1 HBP),liver-related T1 relaxation times(T1 pre,T1 mid,and T1 HBP),fat fraction(FF),and R2* were measured and calculated.One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in MRI quantitative parameters between different Child-Pugh grading groups.Spearman's rank correlation analysis was performed to assess the correlation between MRI quantitative parameters and Child-Pugh grading.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the performance of distinguishing liver function classification by statistically significant MRI parameters.Results Between different Child-Pugh grading groups,the differences in T1 mid,T1 HBP,△T1 mid,△T1 HBP,and R2*were statistically significant(P＜0.05),however T1 pre and FF were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).T1 mid,T1 HBP and R2*were positively correlated with Child-Pugh grading(rs=0.365,0.566,0.597,respectively;P＜0.05),meanwhile △T1 mid and△T1 HBP were negatively correlated with Child-Pugh grading(rs=-0.680,-0.771,respectively;P＜0.05).There were no significant correlations between T1 pre,FF and Child-Pugh grading(P＞0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of T1 HBP,△T1 mid,△T1 HBP,R2*and their combined indicators for distinguishing Child-Pugh A grade from Child-Pugh B grade were about 0.888,0.784,0.955,0.764,and 0.961,respectively(P＜0.05).The AUC of △T1 mid,△T1 HBP,R2* and their combined indicators for distinguishing Child-Pugh B grade from Child-Pugh C grade were about 0.853,0.860,0.797,and 0.941,respectively(P＜0.05).Conclusion Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI T1 mapping and R2*quantitative parameters can be used to independently evaluate the status of liver function in hepatitis B cirrhosis,and the combined evaluation of the two kinds of parameters has a higher diagnostic efficiency.