Objective To study prevalence and clinical significance of coronary artery and aortic calcification in lung cancer screening using spiral CT. Methods 1877 subjects without symptom underwent lung cancer screening using spiral CT. Standard mediastinal windows were used for showing the presence or absence of calcification in coronary arteries and aorta.Results (1)The frequency of coronary artery calcification(CAC) was 15% in total 1877 subjects, the prevalence was higher in male than in famale(P0.05), the prevalence of aortic calcification increased with age in both male and famale. The frequency of calcification was the highest in the arch and lowest in the ascending aorta.Conclusion The lung cancer screening using spiral CT can be used to screen of coronary artery and aortic calcification.The detection of calcification of coronary arteries and aorta has important clinical significance which relates with coronary heart disease.

This study examined the value of volume rendering (VR) interpretation in assessing the growth of pulmonary nodular ground-glass opacity (nGGO). A total of 47 nGGOs (average size, 9.5 mm; range, 5.7-20.6 mm) were observed by CT scanning at different time under identical parameter settings. The growth of nGGO was analyzed by three radiologists by comparing the thin slice (TS) CT images of initial and repeat scans with side-by-side cine mode. One week later synchronized VR images of the two scans were compared by side-by-side cine mode to evaluate the nGGO growth. The nodule growth was rated on a 5-degree scale: notable growth, slight growth, dubious growth, stagnant growth, shrinkage. Growth standard was defined as: Density increase ≥ 30 HU and (or) diameter increase (by 20% in nodules ≥10 mm, 30% in nodules of 5-9 mm). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was performed. The results showed that 32 nGGOs met the growth criteria (29 nGGOs showed an increase in density; 1 nGGO showed an increase in diameter; 2 nGGOs showed an increase in both diameter and density). Area under ROC curve revealed that the performance with VR interpretation was better than that with TS interpretation (P<0.01, P<0.05 and P<0.05 for observers A, B and C respectively). Consistency between different observers was excellent with both VR interpretation (κ=0.89 for observers A&C, A&B, B&C) and TS interpretation (κ=0.71 for A&B, κ=0.68 for A&C, κ= 0.74 for B&C), but time spending was less with VR interpretation than with TS interpretation (P<0.0001, P<0.0001 and P<0.05 for observers A, B and C, respectively). It was concluded that VR is a useful technique for evaluating the growth of nGGO.

0bjective To investigate the relationships between the peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary vessels or bronchi by 16-row muhislice computed tomography(MSCT)and analyze the related factors.Methods Fifty-four patients with peripheral lung cancer confirmed pathologically underwent contrast-erdaanced MSC TI Multiplanar reformation(MPR)and maximum intensity projection(MIP)in all patients were used to demonstrate the relationships between the peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary vessels,bronchi.The relationships were categorized five types:Type 1,erupted at the edge of nodule. Type 2,erupted at the center of nodule.Type 3,penetrated through the nodule.Type 4,contacting the nodule but stretched or encased.Type 5,contacting the nodule but smoothly compressed.The pathology type,stage,size,density and location of the peripheral lung cancer were recorded and the relationships with five types were evaluated by using Chi-square test and correlation analysis.Results (1)Tumor-bronchi relationship:type 1(33,61.1%)was more often seen in≥2.0 cm and solid lesions with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ.while Type 2(14,25.9%)was often seen in<2.0 am and part-solid or non-solid lesions with stage Ⅰ.(2)Tumor-PA relationship:Type 1 was more often seen in≥2.0 am and solid lesions with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ.while Type 2 was often seen in part-solid or non-solid lesions with stage Ⅰ.(3)Tumor-PV relationship:type 4 was the most common type(29,53.7%).Type 2(13,24.1%)was more often seen in part-solid or non-solid lesions.(4)Tumor-bronchi relationship and tumor-PA relationship had a positive correlation(r=0.5265,P<0.01).Conclusions MSCT can demonstrate the relations between the peripheral lung cancer and bronchi.PA and PV.It is useful for the differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of the lung csncer.

This study examined the value of volume rendering (VR) interpretation in assessing the growth of pulmonary nodular ground-glass opacity (nGGO).A total of 47 nGGOs (average size,9.5mm; range,5.7-20.6 mm) were observed by CT scanning at different time under identical parameter settings.The growth of nGGO was analyzed by three radiologists by comparing the thin slice (TS) CT images of initial and repeat scans with side-by-side cine mode.One week later synchronized VR images of the two scans were compared by side-by-side cine mode to evaluate the nGGO growth.The nodule growth was rated on a 5-degree scale:notable growth,slight growth,dubious growth,stagnant growth,shrinkage.Growth standard was defined as:Density increase ≥ 30 HU and (or) diameter increase (by 20％ in nodules ≥10 mm,30％ in nodules of 5-9 mm).Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was performed.The results showed that 32 nGGOs met the growth criteria (29 nGGOs showed an increase in density; 1 nGGO showed an increase in diameter; 2 nGGOs showed an increase in both diameter and density).Area under ROC curve revealed that the performance with VR interpretation was better than that with TS interpretation (P＜0.01,P＜0.05 and P＜0.05 for observers A,B and C respectively).Consistency between different observers was excellent with both VR interpretation (κ=0.89 for observers A&C,A&B,B&C) and TS interpretation (κ=0.71 for A&B,κ=0.68 for A&C,κ=0.74 for B&C),but time spending was less with VR interpretation than with TS interpretation (P＜0.0001,P＜0.0001 and P＜0.05for observers A,B and C,respectively).It was concluded that VR is a useful technique for evaluating the growth of nGGO.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of the combined preoperative albumin-globulin score (AGS) and skeletal muscle index (SMI), referred to as the CAS classification, in predicting postoperative outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.Methods:The clinical data from 265 patients who underwent surgical treatment and were pathologically confirmed to have pancreatic cancer at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between January 2012 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were randomly divided into a training group ( n=184) and a validation group ( n=81) in a 7∶3 ratio. Patients' age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, alcohol consumption history, previous history of metabolic diseases, AGS, SMI, and CAS classifications within 7 days before surgery, preoperative upper abdominal CT imaging features, presence of vascular and neural invasion, and lymph node metastasis were recorded. Patients with AGS grade 0 were classified into the low AGS group ( n=48), while those with AGS grades 1 and 2 were classified into the high AGS group ( n=136). The optimal cutoff value for SMI was determined using X-tile software: male patients with SMI>42.6 cm 2/m 2 or female patients with SMI>37.8 cm 2/m 2 were categorized into the high SMI group ( n=125), while those below these thresholds were categorized into the low SMI group ( n=59). Patients with AGS grade 0 and SMI>42.6 cm 2/m 2 for males or >37.8 cm 2/m 2 for females were classified into the CAS grade 1 group (n=32). Patients with AGS grades 1 or 2 and SMI ≤42.6 cm 2/m 2 for males or ≤37.8 cm 2/m 2 for females were classified into the CAS grade 3 group ( n=43). The remaining patients were classified into the CAS grade 2 group ( n=109). Clinical characteristics were compared across these groups. Cumulative survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival curves were plotted to analyze the relationship between AGS, SMI, and CAS classifications and overall survival after pancreatic cancer surgery. Differences among groups were assessed using the Log-Rank test. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were plotted, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the predictive efficacy of AGS, SMI, and CAS on postoperative survival. Results:Compared to the high AGS group, the low AGS group exhibited higher SMI values [(46.17±9.63) cm 2/m 2vs (44.11±7.43) cm 2/m 2], and a lower incidence of lymph node metastasis (16 vs 66, 33.3% vs 48.5%). The mortality rate in the low AGS group was 50.0%(24/48), significantly lower than the 70.6% (96/136) observed in the high AGS group, with a median overall survival of 22.08 months (95% CI 16.87-29.62) longer than 13.1 months (95% CI 8.84-18.82) in high AGS group. Compared to the low SMI group, the high SMI group had a lower prevalence of metabolic diseases (26.4% vs 44.1%). The mortality rate in the low SMI group was 78.0% (46/59), higher than the 58.4% (73/125) in the high SMI group, with a median overall survival of 12.97 months (95% CI 9.37-18.20) obviously shorter than 16.20 months (95% CI 10.7-24.12) in high SMI group. Lymph node metastasis rate for CAS grade 1, 2, and 3 was 34.4% ( n=11), 44.0% ( n=48), and 62.8% ( n=27), respectively, with corresponding mortality rate of 34.3% (11/32), 67.9% (74/109), and 79.1% (34/43), and median overall survival time of 25.55 months (95% CI 19.49-30.07), 14.10 months (95% CI 10.22-19.14), and 12.5 months (95% CI 8.53-18.00), respectively. All the differences were statistically significant (all P value <0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analyses demonstrated that patients in the low AGS group had significantly longer overall survival than those in the high AGS group in both the training and validation cohorts. Similarly, patients in the high SMI group had longer overall survival compared to those in the low SMI group. Notably, patients in CAS grade 1 exhibited the longest overall survival, whereas those in CAS grade 3 had the shortest. ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC for CAS classification was superior in the training cohort (0.649) compared to AGS (0.588) and SMI (0.593), and in the validation cohort (0.644) compared to AGS (0.587) and SMI (0.577). Conclusions:CAS classification could effectively predict postoperative prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients, with higher CAS grades correlating with poorer outcomes.

Objective To investigate the regulatory role of ubiquitin-specific protease 10(USP10)on the protein expression of Krüppel-like factor 4(KLF4)and its impact on the proliferation and invasion ability of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cells.Methods The protein expression differences of USP10 and KLF4 in normal liver cell line L02 and HCC cell lines,including HepG2,HUH7,HCCLM3 were detected by immunoblotting(Western blot)methods.HCCLM3 and HUH7 cells were selected,and lentiviral particles overexpressing or silencing USP10(oe-USP10 or sh-USP10)was transfected into the cells,and they were designated as the oe-USP10 group and oe-NC group,respectively.Immunoprecipitation(Co-IP)experiments were conducted to examine whether USP10 could di-rectly interact with KLF4 in HCCLM3 or HUH7 cells.The Co-IP assay was repeated in HCC cells transfected with oe-USP10 or sh-USP10,with the addition of the proteasome inhibitor MG132,which used to detect the ubiquitina-tion level of KLF4 protein in the transfected HCC cells.The pcDNA3.1 vector containing overexpressed KLF4 or its negative control plasmid(pc-KLF4 or pc-NC)was co-transfected into cells of the sh-USP10 group or sh-NC group.These cells were designated as the sh-NC+pc-NC group,sh-USP10+pc-NC group,sh-NC+pc-KLF4 group,and sh-USP10+pc-KLF4 group.The cell proliferation activity of each group was measured using the CCK-8 assay,and the cell invasion ability was assessed using the Transwell assay.Results Compared to L02 cells,the protein expres-sion of USP10 and KLF4 significantly decreased in HepG2,HUH7,HCCLM3,and other cells(P＜0.05).In HC-CLM3 and HUH7 cells,USP10 protein directly interacted with KLF4.Furthermore,treatment with MG132 resulted in a time-dependent increase in KLF4 protein expression in HCCLM3 and HUH7 cells.Silencing USP10 increased the ubiquitination of KLF4 in HCCLM3 or HUH7 cells,while overexpressing USP10 decreased the ubiquitination level of KLF4 in cells.Compared to the sh-NC+pc-NC group,both the proliferation activity and invasion ability of HCCLM3 and HUH7 cells significantly increased in the sh-USP10+pc-NC group(P＜0.01),while they signifi-cantly decreased in the sh-NC+pc-KLF4 group and sh-USP10+pc-KLF4 group(P＜0.05).Compared to the sh-USP10+pc-NC group,the proliferation activity and invasion ability of cells significantly decreased in the sh-USP10+pc-KLF4 group(P＜0.05).Conclusion USP10 can promote the stability of KLF4 protein through deubiquiti-nation in HCC cell lines,thereby inhibiting the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells.

Objective:To investigate whether IL-7-secreting oncolytic herpes simplex virus(HSV)could activate CD8+T cells and inhibit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:The expression of IL-7 was detected by Western blot.The in vitro cleavage of tumor cells by tumor oncolytic virus HSV and HSV-IL-7 were detected by crystal violet staining.The tumor inhibition ability of HSV-IL-7 and HSV were detected in subcutaneous transplanted tumor model.Levels of IL-7,IFN-γ and TNF-α in serum and tumor tissues were determined by ELISA.The infiltration of CD8+T cells in tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry.Flow cytometry was used to detect Granzyme B secretion in CD8+T cells infiltrated by tumor.Results:Tumor cells infected with HSV-IL-7 expressed high level of IL-7.Both HSV and HSV-IL-7 can effectively lyse B16-F10,CT-26 and H22 tumor cell lines in a dose-dependent manner in vitro.HSV-IL-7 could significantly inhibit the growth of H22 hepatoma cells in vivo(P<0.01)and prolong the survival time of tumor-bearing mice(P<0.001).HSV-IL-7 could significantly increase the IL-7 content in tumor sites(P<0.000 1),and effectively increase the number of tumor infiltrating CD8+T cells(P<0.001).HSV-IL-7 significantly enhanced Granzyme B secretion of tumor-infiltrating CD8+T cells and IFN-γ and TNF-α in tumor tissues(P<0.000 1).Conclusion:HSV-IL-7 has well tumor inhibition activity in vivo and in vitro.It also can activate the anti-tumor activity of CD8+T cells in vivo by secreting IL-7,inhibit tumor growth and prolong the survival time of tumor-bearing mice.

Objective To construct a survival prediction model for the patients with extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP),and to evaluate its application value.Methods The data of the patients diagnosed as EMP from 2000 to 2019 were collected from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results (SEER) database.Random forest algorithm was used to screen variables,multivariate Cox pro-portional hazards regression model was used to determine the independent risk factors of EMP prognosis,and a nomogram model was constructed based on these factors.The total score of the patients was calculated ac-cording to the nomogram model,and the total samples were divided into the low,medium and high risk groups according to the optimal cutoff value by using X-tile software,and the Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the three groups were analyzed.The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC) of time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (t-ROC) curve,AUC after X years N repeated K-fold cross-validation,calibration curve,and decision curve analysis (DCA).Results A total of 1458 patients with EMP were included,including 796 cases of deletions and 662 cases of death.In the deletion and deaths groups,the majority were aged 60-<75 years old (35.4％,41.2％),male (63.1％,66.3％),white race peo-ple (81.3％,80.4％),and married (68.2％,59.4％).Finally,age (45-<60 years old/60-<75 years old/≥ 75 years old),marital status (single/others),non-primary malignant tumor,and without surgery and radio-therapy were determined to be the independent risk factors for the survival of EPM patients (P<0.05).Based on the above independent risk factors,a survival prediction model was constructed,and a nomogram was drawn.According to the optimal cutoff value,the total sample was divided into the score of 0-96 group (low risk group),score of 98-135 group (medium risk group) and score of 139-191 group (high risk group).The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that there was statistically significant difference in the survival time a-mong the three groups (P<0.0001).AUC of t-ROC curves for 1,3,5 years and AUC after cross-validation all were>0.7,indicating that the model had a good degree of differentiation.The calibration curves suggested a good consistency between the prediction and practical over survival rate,and DCA indicated that the model could improve the clinical benefits.Conclusion The constructed survival prediction model for EMP patients based on the SEER database could help the clinicians to identify the prognostic risk factors and predict the o-verall survival rate of the patients.

Objective:To detect serum levels of vitamin A (Vit A), vitamin D(Vit D)25-hydroxy vitamin D[25-(OH)D] and vitamin E(Vit E) in children aged 0-6 years in Tibetan Plateau of Garzi Prefecture, thus providing references for physical examinations and prevention of 4 key diseases (rickets, malnutrition anemia, pneumonia and diarrhea) in children in plateau areas by relevant government departments.Methods:A total of 2 122 children who participated in physical examination in 12 townships of Xiangcheng County and 14 townships of Daocheng County, Garzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province from April 2017 to April 2019 with 0-6 years old were recruited for surveying physical measurements and collection of venous blood.Serum Vit A and Vit E levels were detected by high performance liquid chromatography.Serum levels of 25-(OH)D were detected by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.The relationship between Vit A, Vit E and 25-(OH)D levels with the gender, age, seasonal change and altitude was analyzed.Results:The serum Vit A level, subclinical Vit A deficiency rate and marginal vitamin A deficiency rate were(1.05±0.27) μmol/L, 8.15%(173/2 122 cases) and 45.99%(976/2 122 cases), respectively in 2 122 children with 0-6 years old.There were significant differences in the serum Vit A level, the subclinical Vit A deficiency rate and the marginal vitamin A deficiency rate in children with different ages, seasons and altitudes (all P<0.05). The serum level of 25-(OH)D and 25-(OH)D deficiency rate insufficient rate were (24.65±6.45) ng/L, 6.03%(128/2 122 cases) and 16.59%(352/2 122 cases), respectively.There were significant differences in the serum level of 25-(OH)D, 25-(OH)D deficiency rate and 25-(OH)D insufficient rate in children with different ages and seasons (all P<0.05). The mean serum Vit E level, Vit E deficiency rate and Vit E insufficient rate were (7.81±1.74) mg/L, 2.78%(59/2 122 cases) and 29.59%(628/2 122 cases), respectively.There were significant differences in serum Vit E level, Vit E deficiency rate and Vit E insufficient rate in children with different ages and seasons (all P<0.05). The mean serum levels of Vit A and Vit D remained the lowest before the age of 1 year, and their deficiencies at this age were the most significant.The mean serum level of Vit E remained the lowest in >1-2 years old, and its deficiency and insufficient at this age were the most significant.Vit A, D and E levels were significantly affected by seasonal changes, which were significantly higher in the summer than in the spring, autumn and winter.In addition, Vit A and 25-(OH)D were significantly affected by the altitude, which were the lowest above 4 km altitude. Conclusions:The overall serum levels of Vit A, 25-(OH) D and E in children with 0-6 years old in Tibetan Plateau areas of Ganzi Prefecture are lower than those in plain areas.Vit A, 25-(OH) D and Vit E levels significantly differed in the age, season and altitude, which are related to the lack of local resources, insufficient maternal nutrition during pregnancy and insufficient intake after birth, as well as temperature and light caused by changes in local seasons and altitude.Therefore, it is necessary to make reasonable supplements during pregnancy to prevent vitamin deficiency.