Objective To assess the damage of limbic system pathways in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography.Methods DTI tractography was used to acquire fiber numbers,fractional anisotropy (FA),mean diffusivity (MD) of cingulum,fornix,and uncinate fasciculus (UF) in 20 RRMS patients (MS group) and 20 healthy volunteers (control group),and statistical analysis was performed.Results Compared with control group,lower FA value (P＜0.01) and higher MD value (P＜0.05) were found in cingulum,fornix and UF of MS group,and the fiber numbers of fornix decreased in MS group (P＜0.001).There were significant differences between the left and the right UF in fiber numbers and FA value of control group and the fiber numbers of MS group.Negative correlations were found between FA value of cingulum and UF and EDSS scores in MS group (r=-0.572,-0.665,both P＜0.05),and positive correlations were found between MD value and EDSS scores (r=0.627,0.603,both P＜0.05).Conclusion DTI tractography is valuable in assessing MS associated limbic system damage and in monitoring the clinical progression of the disease.

Objective To assess the changes of white matter microstructure in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) with DTI based on tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) method.Methods Conventional MR and DTI were performed in 20 NMOSD patients (NMOSD group) and 20 healthy volunteers (control group).DTI data were analyzed with TBSS procedure,which was a part of FSL software packages,and non-parametric statistical analysis was performed on the whole brain.Correlation between FA value of tracts with significant difference in NMOSD group and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores was analyzed.Results TBSS analysis revealed significantly (P＜ 0.05,FWE corrected) extensive decrease of FA value in cerebrum and cerebellum white matter fiber bundles,i.e.corpus callosum,fornix,corticospinal tract,unciform fasciculus,cerebellar peduncles etc.in NMOSD group,and decrease of AD value,increase of RD value in cingulum bundle,corpus callosum and fornix,while MD value only increased in fornix and retrolenticular part of the left internal capsule (P＜0.05,FWE corrected).Negative correlations were found between FA value of left uncinate fasciculus,right external capsule,left inferior cerebellar peduncle,bilateral anterior limb of internal capsule,medial lemniscus and EDSS scores (all P＜0.05).Conclusion Widespread white matter damage is observed in cerebrum and cerebellum in NMOSD patients by using TBSS analysis,which may partly correspond to the disabilities of NMOSD patients.However,the other microstructural changes of white matter tracts may suggest complicated pathological mechanism of NMOSD.

Objective:To investigate the application value of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCEUS) combined with serum pepsinogen (PG) in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer(EGC).Methods:Eighty-two patients suspected of EGC from July 2020 to July 2022 in the People′s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and preoperative DCEUS examination and PG test were performed, and the patients were divided into benign lesion group(13 cases), early gastric cancer group(57 cases) and progressive gastric cancer group(12 cases) using postoperative pathology as the gold standard. Parameters for comparison included time to peak (TTP), peak intensity (PI), enhanced intensity (EI), serum pepsinogen Ⅰ (PGⅠ), serum pepsinogenⅡ (PGⅡ) and their ratio (PGⅠ/PGⅡ). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of DCEUS and PG alone and in combination for the diagnosis of EGC were analyzed by plotting the ROC curve, and its diagnostic value was compared.Results:In the comparison of DCEUS parameters, PI and EI values were higher in the malignant group than in the benign lesion group and TTP was the opposite, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). In the comparison of PG detection, PGⅠ and PGⅠ/PGⅡ were lower in the malignant group than in the benign lesions, and lower in the progressive gastric cancer than in the EGC, while PGⅡ was the opposite, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). As shown by the ROC curve results, the sensitivity of DCEUS and PG alone and in combination for the diagnosis of EGC was 80.7%, 73.7% and 87.7%, respectively; the specificity was 76.0%, 72.0% and 80.0%, respectively; and the accuracy was 79.3%, 73.2% and 85.4%, respectively. The area under curve (AUC) of the two modalities alone and combined were 0.784 (95% CI=0.669-0.898), 0.728 (95% CI=0.606-0.850) and 0.839 (95% CI=0.734-0.943), respectively, and the combined diagnosis had a higher diagnostic value than the single diagnostic modality. Conclusions:The combined diagnostic modality of DCEUS and PG can further improve the diagnostic efficacy of EGC and reduce its underdiagnosis rate, which has good application value.

Objective:To evaluate the regeneration and biomechanical property recovery of semitendinosus tendon(ST)/gracilis tendon(GT) after anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) reconstruction using shear wave elastorgraphy (SWE) combined with high-frequency ultrasound(HFUS).Methods:Twenty-five patients who underwent ST/GT autograft reconstruction after ACL rupture at the People′s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2020 to June 2022 were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent HFUS, SWE and flexion strength assessment at pre-operation and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months postoperatively. The morphology, length, cross-sectional area and SWE of ST/GT and flexion strength of knee were recorded at each time point. Repeated measures analysis of variance was employed to compare the cross-sectional area and elasticity value of regenerated ST/GT at different time points. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the elasticity value of regenerated ST/GT and flexion strength.Results:The regeneration rates of ST/GT after being harvested for ACL reconstruction were 88% and 92%. The length of the regenerated ST/GT were shorter than before operation(both P<0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant differences in the cross-sectional area of regenerated ST/GT, both in terms of time effect and inter-group effect ( F=27.264, 28.980; both P<0.001), but no significant difference was observed in the interaction effect ( F=0.670, P=0.652). The cross-sectional area of regenerated ST/GT was the largest at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), and restored to the preoperative level at 12 and 24 months postoperatively (both P>0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the elasticity values of the regenerated ST/GT were significantly different in terms of time effect, group effect, and interaction effect ( F=265.402, 33.015, 11.475; all P<0.001). The elasticity of regenerated ST/GT post-operation gradually increased over time. The flexion strength level of knee gradually improved post-operation(χ 2=34.83, P<0.001). The elasticity values of the regenerated ST and GT showed significant positive correlations with the flexion strength ( rs=0.755, 0.761; both P<0.001). Conclusions:HFUS discovers that most of ST/GT can be regenerated after being harvested for ACL reconstruction. The flexion strength and elasticity value of regenerated tendon recover gradually with time. It is suggested that the SWE can predict the recovery of biomechanical property of regenerated ST/GT.

In order to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic intermuscular dissection (EID) for the treatment of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (R-NETs), a retrospective observational study was conducted on 8 consecutive patients with R-NETs confirmed by postoperative pathology at South China Hospital, Medical School, Shenzhen University from January 2022 to October 2023. The therapeutic efficacy, incidence of complications, and follow-up results were mainly analyzed. The results showed that all 8 cases achieved complete resection after EID, with operation times ranging from 40 to 90 minutes. No bleeding, perforation, fever or electrocoagulation syndrome occurred after operation. The hospital stay was 4 to 6 days. During follow-up of 3 to 24 months, there was no local recurrence or metastasis. Therefore, a preliminary conclusion can be drawn that EID is a safe and feasible treatment for R-NETs.

Objective:To examine the technique and effect of combined thoracic and abdominal organ clusters resection.Methods:From February 2019 to August 2021, totally 50 cases of combined thoracoabdominal organ cluster resection were completed at Transplant Medical Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from donation after brain death donors. There were 47 males and 3 females, aging (34.8±12.3) years (range: 5 to 55 years). The length of hospital stay( M(IQR)) was 4(4) days (range: 2 to 43 days), the length of tube time was 4(2) days (range: 1 to 43 days). Through the midsternal incision and the abdominal grand cross incision, the cold perfusion was performing simultaneously when the perfusion lines of each target organ was established respectively. The combined resection was performed with the diaphragm as the boundary and the organ cluster as the unit. The heart and lung were separated on site and sent to the transplant hospital, and the abdominal organ cluster was directly preserved and returned to our hospital for further separation and repair. Results:Totaly 21 hearts, 47 pairs of lungs, 49 livers, 47 pairs of kidneys and 11 pancreas were harvested by this surgical treatment. The resection time was (32.6±6.5) minutes (range: 19 to 50 minutes), with no hot ischemia time. There was no accidental injury that affected organ quality and function. Heart transplantation was performed in 17 cases, combined heart-kidney transplantation in 2 cases, double lung transplantation in 43 cases, single lung transplantation in 6 cases, liver transplantation in 41 cases, combined liver-pancreas-duodenal cluster transplantation in 1 case, combined liver-kidney transplantation in 3 cases, combined pancreas-kidney transplantation in 9 cases, and kidney transplantation in 74 cases.Conclusion:Simultaneous perfusion and combined resection of thoracic and abdominal organ clusters for donation after brain death donors are feasible and effective.

Objective:To examine the technique and effect of combined thoracic and abdominal organ clusters resection.Methods:From February 2019 to August 2021, totally 50 cases of combined thoracoabdominal organ cluster resection were completed at Transplant Medical Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from donation after brain death donors. There were 47 males and 3 females, aging (34.8±12.3) years (range: 5 to 55 years). The length of hospital stay( M(IQR)) was 4(4) days (range: 2 to 43 days), the length of tube time was 4(2) days (range: 1 to 43 days). Through the midsternal incision and the abdominal grand cross incision, the cold perfusion was performing simultaneously when the perfusion lines of each target organ was established respectively. The combined resection was performed with the diaphragm as the boundary and the organ cluster as the unit. The heart and lung were separated on site and sent to the transplant hospital, and the abdominal organ cluster was directly preserved and returned to our hospital for further separation and repair. Results:Totaly 21 hearts, 47 pairs of lungs, 49 livers, 47 pairs of kidneys and 11 pancreas were harvested by this surgical treatment. The resection time was (32.6±6.5) minutes (range: 19 to 50 minutes), with no hot ischemia time. There was no accidental injury that affected organ quality and function. Heart transplantation was performed in 17 cases, combined heart-kidney transplantation in 2 cases, double lung transplantation in 43 cases, single lung transplantation in 6 cases, liver transplantation in 41 cases, combined liver-pancreas-duodenal cluster transplantation in 1 case, combined liver-kidney transplantation in 3 cases, combined pancreas-kidney transplantation in 9 cases, and kidney transplantation in 74 cases.Conclusion:Simultaneous perfusion and combined resection of thoracic and abdominal organ clusters for donation after brain death donors are feasible and effective.

Objective:To analyze the diagnostic and prognostic value of routine bone marrow examination in patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) based on PET-CT staging.Methods:Clinical data of 186 patients who received bone marrow biopsy and bone marrow aspiration in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from 2013 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into bone marrow biopsy + bone marrow aspiration group ( n=186) and PET-CT + bone marrow biopsy group ( n=139). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were compared between two groups. The data were analyzed and plotted. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results:In the whole cohort, 45 patients were positive for bone marrow biopsy, and 30 of them were positive for bone marrow aspiration. A total of 141 patients who were negative for bone marrow biopsy also achieved negative results for bone marrow aspiration. A total of 139 patients completed PET-CT staging and bone marrow biopsy. And 30 patients were diagnosed with positive bone marrow by PET-CT, in which 22 of them were confirmed positive by bone marrow biopsy. Among 109 patients diagnosed with negative bone marrow by PET-CT, 5 of them were confirmed positive by bone marrow biopsy. All these cases were classified as stage Ⅳ due to distant metastases. PET-CT had a diagnostic sensitivity of 81.5%, a specificity of 92.9%, a positive predictive value of 73.3%, and a negative predictive value of 95.4%. Among early stage (Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage) patients diagnosed with PET-CT, all of them were negative for bone marrow biopsy (the negative predictive value was 100%). In stage Ⅳ patients ( n=55), the 1-year overall survival of patients with bone marrow involvement by bone marrow biopsy or PET-CT ( n=35) compared with their counterparts with the involvement of other organs ( n=20) was 28.7% vs.42.0% ( P=0.13), and 1-year progression free survival rates was 23.2% vs. 23.3% in ( P=0.94). Conclusions:Routine bone marrow biopsy does not change the original staging of patients with early stage ENKTCL based on PET-CT staging. Advanced stage patients with positive bone marrow biopsy tend to obtain worse prognosis, indicating that bone marrow biopsy still has certain value.