Objective To discuss the clinical application of intravoxel incoherent motion-diffusion weighted imaging(IVIM-DWI)in evaluating the efficacy and prognosis of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)using different embolization materials for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data of a total of 84 patients with inoperable HCC,who received TACE treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University of China and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University of China between June 30,2019 and December 30,2022,were collected.According to the patient's condition,different embolization materials were used during TACE.IVIM-DWI check-up was performed before treatment as well as at one,6,12 months after treatment.Based on the fixed b-value set by IVIM-DWI sequence,the ADC value of the order index model for different embolization materials and the pure diffusion coefficient of double exponential model(D value),the pseudo-diffusion coefficient(D*value)and perfusion fraction(f value)were analyzed.According to modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(mRECIST)and the embolization material used,the patients were divided into the stable group and progression group,and the changes in the ADC value,D value,D*value and f value were compared between the two groups.Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the four clinical parameters(including age,Child-Pugh grade,AFP level and tumor size)and the eight functional quantitative indexes(including preoperative and postoperative ADC value,D value,D* value and f value)so as to determine the IVIM parameters with prognostic predictive value.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)was adopted to analyze the diagnostic value and cut-off value of IVIM parameters with predictive value.Results After treatment,the ADC value of drug-loaded microspheres group(n=36)was significantly higher than that of iodized oil group(n=27),the D*value of drug-loaded microspheres group and iodized oil group was remarkably lower than that of PVA particle group(n=21),and the f value of drug-loaded microspheres group was strikingly lower than that of iodized oil group,the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.01).In the stable group,the efficacy of drug loaded microspheres group was obviously better than that of the iodized oil group and the PVA particle group.In the progression group,the iodized oil group was more likely to develop disease progression than the drug-loaded microspheres group and the PVA particle group.The preoperative f value in the stable group was prominently higher than that in the progression group(P=0.005),and the postoperative ADC value in the stable group was obviously higher than that in the progression group(P=0.029).ROC analysis showed that the median follow-up time in the drug-loaded microspheres group,iodized oil group,and PVA particle group was 30,19,and 26 months respectively,the overall average survival time was 25 months,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the preoperative D value(AUC=0.878),D*value(AUC=0.554)and postoperative D value(AUC=0.791),D*value(AUC=0.552),f value(AUC=0.467)were the independent factors affecting the short-term efficacy of TACE(all P＜0.05).The preoperative and postoperative D value had higher diagnostic efficacy,while a preoperative D value of＜0.505×10-3 mm2/s and a postoperative D value of＜0.785×10-3 mm2/s predicted a poor prognosis.Conclusion The preoperative and postoperative D value is the optimal parameter for predicting the curative efficacy of TACE using different embolization materials for the treatment of HCC.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir (Nanjing Zhengda Tianqing Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) combined with ribavirin in patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Methods: Treatment-naïve or treatment experienced genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C patients from sixteen research centers of China were screened. All subjects received once-daily dose of sofosbuvir (400 mg) combined with ribavirin (body weight < 75 kg, 1 000 mg/day, 400 mg in the morning and 600 mg in the evening; body weight > 75 kg, 1 200 mg/d, 600 mg in the morning and 600 mg in the evening) for 12 weeks. Patients were followed-up for a period of 12 weeks after discontinuation of treatment. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The proportion of subjects with virologic response at different follow-up time points and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by maximum likelihood ratio and Clopper-Pearson interval. Results: 132 cases with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C virus infection from sixteen research centers of China were included, 12 cases of whom were associated with cirrhosis, and the remaining 120 cases were not associated with cirrhosis. One hundred and thirty-one cases completed the study, and one patient lost to follow-up at week 4 after the end of treatment. The sustained virological response rate was 96.2% (95% confidence interval: 92.37% - 99.16%) after 12 weeks of drug withdrawal. Virological relapse occurred in four cases. Of the 132 subjects enrolled in the study, 119 (90.2%) reported 617 adverse events during treatment, of which 359 (76.5%) were TEAE related to sofosbuvir and/or ribavirin. There were nine TEAEs of grade 3 and above, and six cases (4.5%) of them had six severe adverse events. Only one serious adverse event was associated with sofosbuvir and ribavirin (unstable angina pectoris). There were no adverse events leading to drug discontinuation or death. Conclusion Sofosbuvir combined with ribavirin has a high SVR rate in the treatment of genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C virus infection, and most of the adverse events occurred were mild with acceptable safety profile.