Objective To investigate the best weighting of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) algorithm and optimized low-dose scanning parameters in thoracic aorta CT angiography(CTA).Methods Totally 120 patients with the body mass index (BMI) of 19-24 were randomly divided into 6 groups.All patients underwent thoracic aorta CTA with a GE Discovery CT 750 HD scanner (ranging from 290-330 mm).The default parameters (100 kV,240 mAs) were applied in Group 1.Reconstructions were performed with different weightings of ASIR (10％-100％ with 10％),and the signal to noise ratio (S/N) and contrast to noise ratio (C/N) of images were calculated.The images of series were evaluated by 2 independent radiologists with 5-point-scale and lastly the best weighting were revealed.Then the mAs in Group 2-6 were defined as 210,180,150,120 and 90 with the kilovoltage 100.The CTDIvoland DLP in every scan series were recorded and the effective dose (E) was calculated.The S/N and C/N were calculated and the image quality was assessed by two radiologists.Results The best weighing of ASIR was 60％ at the 100 kV,240 mAs.Under 60％ of ASIR and 100 kV,the scores of image quality from 240 mAs to 90 mAs were(4.78 ±0.30)-(3.15 ±0.23).The CTDIvol and DLP were 12.64-4.41 mGy and 331.81-128.27 mGy,and the E was 4.98-1.92 mSv.The image qualities among Group 1-5 were nor significantly different (F =5.365,P ＞ 0.05),but the CTDIvol and DLP of Group 5 were reduced by 37.0％ and 36.9％,respectively compared with Group 1.Conclusions In thoracic aorta CT Angiography,the best weighting of ASIR is 60％,and 120 mAs is the best mAs with 100 kV in patients with BMI 19-24.

Objective To investigate the effect of different noise index (NI) combined with iterative recombination on the image quality and radiation dose of CT scan in patients with different body mass index (BMI). Method One hundred and sixty patients who had a liver CT enhanced scan were divided into group A (18 kg/m2≤BMI<24 kg/m2 ) and group B (24 kg/m2≤BMI<31 kg/m2) according to BMI, and each group had 80 patients. The two groups were randomly divided into 4 subgroups which NI value was 11, 13, 15 and 17 respectively. All images were restructured with 50% adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction. Subjective evaluation, objective evaluation [signal noise ratio (SNR) and contrast noise ratio (CNR)] and the effective dose of each group were recorded and calculated after the scan. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to evaluated the difference of imaging quality and radiation dose. Results In group A, the SNR, CNR and the subjective score of the later arterial phase images showed a statistical difference between NI=17 group and other subgroups (P<0.05), while there was no statistical differences among the other three subgroups during three CT enhanced phase. The average ED of NI=15, 17 group were decreased by 57.56%(2.17/3.77) and 61.54% (2.32/3.77) compared with NI=11 group, respectively. In group B, the SNR, CNR and the subjective image scores of the later arterial phase showed a significant difference between NI=15 and NI=11, 13 group (P<0.05). There was a statistically difference of image quality in group NI=17 compared with the other three subgroups in the later arterial phase, portal venous phase and equilibrium phase (P<0.05). The average ED of NI= 13, 15 group was decreased by 26.41% (1.69/6.40) and 45.31%(2.90/6.40) compared with NI=11 group, respectively. Conclusion Upon maintaining diagnostic imaging quality, setting different NI according to BMI and applying the iterative reconstruction algorithm can effectively reduce the radiation dose of liver CT enhanced scanning.

Objective To compare the image quality and radiation dose of CTA of the kidney in patients using routine CT and the spectral imaging combination of different scanning protocols with the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction 2.0 algorithm (ASIR 2.0). Methods A total of 90 patients who had undergone a CTA of the kidney were divided into three groups (A, B and C), with 30 patients in each group. Group A underwent a routine CT examination, and the scan parameters are:120 kVp, 30 to 650 mA, rotation time 0.5 s/r, scan FOV 50 cm × 50 cm;while groups B and C underwent spectral imaging protocol 1 and 2, the scan parameters of spectral imaging protocol 1 and 2 are:rapid dual kVp (80-140 kVp) switching in 0.25 ms, 375 mA and 360 mA, rotation time 0.7 s/r and 0.6 s/r, scan FOV 36 cm × 36 cm and 32 cm × 32 cm, respectively. All images were reconstructured using ASIR 2.0. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of all images were calculated when the kidney CTA was completed. Each subjective image evaluation used a 5-point scoring method and was conducted by two independent radiologists. The CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length product (DLP) were recorded, and the mean value was calculated. The DLP was converted to the effective dose (ED). All data were compared with Kruskal-Wallis test and one-way ANOVA. Results The energy level of 49 to 56 keV was found to provide the best CNR for displaying CTA of the kidney. There were significant differences in CT values, noise, SNR, CNR and subjective score between groups B, C and A (P<0.05), and there was no significant differences in CT values, noise, SNR, CNR and subjective score between groups B and C (P>0.05). There were significant differences in ED among groups A, B and C (P<0.05), and the ED of groups A, B and C were (8.2±1.2), (5.2± 0.9) and (4.4 ± 0.7) mSv, respectively. Conclusion Spectral imaging with different scanning protocols can more effectively reduce the radiation dose than the routine CT scan mode for a kidney CTA while still maintaining diagnostic image quality, and protocol 2 of spectral imaging in our study is recommended.

Objective To explore the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and nurses′ psychological capital. Methods By convenient sampling, totally 550 nurses in 5 first-class upper level general hospitals in Zhejiang province were investigated by the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Cheeklist-Civilan Version (PCL-C) and Nurses Psychological Capital Questionnaire Revision (NPCQR), and the results were analyzed. Results 18.35%investigated nurses showed a certain degree of PTSD symptoms and 13.71% showed obvious PTSD symptoms. The positive rate was 32.06%.The overall score of nurses′psychological capital was 78.81 ± 16.54, which was in the middle level, and the dimension scores from high to low were self-efficacy (23.80±5.35), hope (23.36±5.24), resilience (19.66 ±4.29), and optimism (11.99 ± 3.21). The nurses′psychological capital had a negative effect on posttraumatic stress disorder (P<0.01). Conclusions Psychological capital of nurses is a negative predictor of PTSD symptoms, which suggested that managers should pay more attention to the development of nurses′psychological capital to reduce and prevent the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder,then to improve nursing service quality.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical management for the severe stenosis of peripheral esophageal access. METHOD: Twenty-three patients who underwent severe stenosis of peripheral esophageal access from 2000 to 2009, were retrospectively reviewed. The surgical plan was selected by considering the stage of stenosis, dilatation, reconstruction of hypopharynx, oesophagus or larynx. RESULT: Twenty-two patients resumed a normal oral diet and 21 cases succeeded in decannulation, no stenosis recurred after a 1-9 years follow-up. CONCLUSION The severe stenosis of peripheral esophageal access can get good results when the appropriate surgical plan were choice.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Esophageal Stenosis ; surgery ; Esophagoplasty ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngeal Diseases ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the relationship between workplace bullying and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in nursing staff, and to analyze the role of psychological capital between workplace bullying and PTSD. Methods: From December 2014 to June 2015, convenience sampling was used to collect 496 nurses from 5 grade A tertiary hospitals in a province of China. Their workplace bullying, psychological capital, and PTSD status were assessed using the Negative Acts Questionnaire, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Self-Rating Scale, respectively. The correlation between variables was analyzed using a structural equation model. Results: Among these nurses, the scores of negative acts, psychological capital, and PTSD were 37.15±12.83, 78.81±16.54, and 34.56±12.52, respectively. The score on each dimension of negative acts was positively correlated with that on each dimension of PTSD (P<0.01) ; the score on each dimension of psychological capital was negatively correlated with that on each dimension of PTSD and negative acts (P<0.01). Negative acts had a positive predictive effect on PTSD (β=0.539, P<0.01) , which was reduced after inclusion of psychological capital (β=0.513, P<0.01). The path coefficient was 0.62 for the effect of negative acts on PTSD, -0.18 for the effect of negative acts on psychological capital, and -0.11 for the effect of psychological capital on PTSD (P<0.05) . Conclusion Workplace bullying is a predictive factor for PTSD, and psychological capital plays a mediating role between workplace bullying and PTSD. The manager should reduce workplace bullying to improve the psychological capital in nursing staff and to prevent and reduce PTSD.

Objective:To assess the renal-protective effect of Elabela (Ela) on diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and explore its potential mechanism.Methods:db/db mice were randomly divided into diabetic group and Ela intervention group, while db/m mice were taken as normal control group. The mice in the Ela intervention group were intraperitoneally injected with Ela-21 5 mg·kg -1·d -1 for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) was measured. The renal pathological changes were observed by HE and PAS staining. The expression of aquaporin 2(AQP2) examined by immunohistochemistry. The level of collage Ⅳ(Col-Ⅳ) and AQP2 in renal tissue was analyzed by Western blot. The human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were incubated with high glucose medium and further interfered with apelin receptors (APJ)-siRNA. Western blot analysis was used to detect the effect of Ela intervention on Col-Ⅳ and AQP2 expression. Finally, to clarify the possible mechanism of Ela regulating AQP2, the interaction between Ela-induced APJ activation and arginine vasopressin (AVP)-evoked arginine vasopressin receptor 2 (AVPR2) activation was investigated by NanoBit ? technology. Results:(1) Without affecting blood glucose and body weight, Ela intervention significantly reduced the UACR in db/db mice, and attenuate pathological changes of the kidney, as well as expression of Col-Ⅳ and AQP2. (2) Ela treatment could remarkably inhibit the high glucose-induced the expression of Col-Ⅳ and AQP2, which was reversed by interfering with APJ. (3) AVP-induced downstream β-Arrestin-2 signaling transduction via AVPR2 was obviously antagonized by interaction of Ela and APJ, further suggesting that the inhibitory effect of Ela on AQP2 may be related to antagonizing AVP/AVPR2 signaling.Conclusion:Ela exerts renal protection by inhibiting the expression of AQP2 through APJ.

Background: Scalp combing,as an ancient method of health care,has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine.Although this method is considered to be beneficial for the blood circu-lation of the head,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Methods: Both human participants and mice were used in this study.In participants,the scalp was stimulated by combing continuously for 5 min,and the temperature was measured using infrared thermal imaging before and after stimulation.In mice,the temperature was determined before and at 5,15,and 30 min after a 5-min scalp mechanical stimulation(SMS).Additionally,the vasculature of the mice was labeled with retro-orbital fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran injection,and the capillaries were observed directly under a confocal microscope.Using in vivo CLARITY imaging and the spectrofluoro-metric detection of Evans Blue dye extravasation,the blood—brain barrier permeability was assessed.Results: SMS increased the temperature of the left ear significantly in human(P =.0247)while can slightly increase the temperature of the right ear and the face without significant difference(P >.05).Moreover,SMS can significantly slow the decrease in the temperature of the external auditory canal at 5 min(P =.0153)and in body temperature at 15 min(P =.0295)after SMS whereas no significant difference in body temperature at 30 min(P>.05)compared with control mice.Furthermore,capillaries of the ear with a diameter of less than 8μm were significantly dilated(P=.0006)following SMS and the number of dextran dots was higher at 15 min(P >.05)and 30 min(F = 10.98,P =.037)after SMS intervention compared with control mice.Conclusion: Our study provides strong evidence to support the notion that scalp combing can improve extra-and intracranial blood circulation under healthy conditions.

Objective To develop and test the reliability and validity of the Intrinsic Capacity Assessment Scale for the Older People,so as to provide an effective tool for the assessment of the intrinsic capacity of the aged.Methods Based on the International Classification of Functioning,Disability and Health(ICF)as the theoretical framework,the initial version of The Intrinsic Capacity Assessment Scale for the Older People was developed through literature analysis,Delphi expert consultation and pre-survey.From July to September 2023,650 old people were selected by convenience sampling method to conduct a survey,and 20 old people were surveyed after 2 weeks again to test the reliability and validity of the scale.Results The effective questionnaire recovery rates of the 2 rounds of expert correspondence were 92.3％and 91.7％;the expert authority coefficients were 0.83 and 0.86;the mean importance scores of items were 2.04-3.79 and 3.50-3.82,and the full score ratios were 4.2％-83.3％and 54.6％-86.4％,respectively.The coefficients of variation were 0.11-0.42 and 0.11-0.23,respectively.A total of 5 common factors were extracted from exploratory factor analysis,and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 68.327％.The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the fit indexes were x2/df=1.908,RMSEA=0.054,CFI=0.931,IFI=0.932,TLI=0.922,indicating a good fit.The Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.944;the split half reliability was 0.806;the retest reliability was 0.933.The content validity index of item level was 0.82-1.00,and the content validity index of scale level was 0.91.The Intrinsic Capacity Assessment Scale for the Older People included 35 items in 5 dimensions:movement,vitality,sensation,cognition and psychology.Conclusion The Intrinsic Capacity Assessment Scale for the Older People has good reliability and validity,and it can be used as a reliable tool to evaluate the intrinsic capacity level of the aged.

Objective To observe the effect of Baduanjin exercise on depression,sleep quality and life quality of patients with breast cancer in the rehabilitation period.Methods A total of 76 breast can-cer patients in postoperative rehabilitation were randomly divided into an intervention group of 38 with 2 dropping out,and a control group of 38 with 3 dropouts.Both groups received routine nursing and rehabilitation after breast cancer surgery,while the intervention group additionally practised Baduanjin for 6 weeks.The Beck Depression Inventory-Ⅱ(BDI-Ⅱ-C),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30(EORTC QLQ-C30)were used to evaluate both groups be-fore,as well as 3 and 6 weeks after intervention.Results After 3-week intervention,the average BDI-Ⅱ-C score,the total PSQI score and the scores of all dimensions except for the hypnotic drug dimen-sion of the intervention group was significantly lower than before treatment(P<0.05),and the control group at the same time point(P<0.05),while the scores of physical,emotional,cognitive,social and role function in EORTC QLQ-C30 were significantly higher than the latter(P<0.05).Three weeks lat-er,the average BDI-Ⅱ-C score,the total PSQI score and the scores of all dimensions except for the hypnotic drug dimension of the intervention group was significantly lower than before treatment(P<0.05),and the control group at the same time point(P<0.05),while the various scores of EORTC QLQ-C30 were significantly higher than the latter(P<0.05).Compared with after 3-week intervention,after 6-week intervention,the average BDI-Ⅱ-C score,the total PSQI score and the scores of its all dimensions except for the sleep disorder dimension of the intervention group decreased significantly,while all dimension scores of EORTC QLQ-C30 except the cognitive function dimension increased sig-nificantly(P<0.05 for all).Conclusion Baduanjin is feasible in improving the sleep and life quality of patients in the rehabilitation period after breast cancer surgery,and relieving their depression.