Objective:To investigate the stability and feasibility of improved silent MRA technique based on hybrid-arterial spin labeling(ASL) for imaging intracranial arterial stenosis.Methods:From September 2019 to May 2020, totally 35 patients with suspected intracranial vascular stenosis in Department of Neurology of Northern Jiangsu People′s Hospital were enrolled in this study. Silent MRA and improved silent MRA based on hybrid-ASL technique were performed respectively. The acquisition noise (noise measurement and subjective score) of two kinds of MRA examination were evaluated respectively. Two neuroradiologists performed image quality scoring and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurement of intracranial arteries (including internal carotid artery, vertebrobasilar artery, anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral artery) in the two kinds of MRA images using a double-blind, completely randomized method. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the image quality and SNR of two kinds of MRA images in each segment. Two experts assessed the degree of stenosis at the site of confirmed intracranial artery stenosis. Kappa test was used to assess interobserver and intermodel agreement. Results:There was no significant difference in acquisition noise between improved silent MRA and silent MRA ( P>0.05). In all five segments measured, the image quality scores of internal carotid artery [(4.40±0.49)scores], anterior cerebral artery[(4.30±0.33)scores] and middle cerebral artery [(4.46±0.34)scores] in improved silent MRA were higher than those in silent MRA images [(4.02±0.43)scores, (4.02±0.31)scores, (4.02±0.31)scores; t=2.825, 2.877, 1.683, all P<0.05)]. The SNR of internal carotid artery (9.11±1.23) and middle cerebral artery (8.77±1.87) in improved silent MRA images was higher than that in silent MRA images (7.83±1.33, 8.06±2.67, respectively; t=11.154, 3.268, both P<0.05). A total of 24 patients (38 lesions) with intracranial vascular stenosis were diagnosed by CTA. Improved silent MRA (Kappa=0.89, 95%CI 0.82-0.95) and silent MRA (Kappa=0.85, 95%CI 0.77-0.92) were highly consistent among observers in evaluating the degree of cerebrovascular stenosis.The results of improved silent MRA were highly consistent with those of CTA (Kappa=0.92, 95%CI 0.87-0.98), and those of silent MRA were highly consistent with those of CTA (Kappa=0.85, 95%CI 0.77-0.92). Conclusions:The improved silent MRA is feasible to improve the imaging quality and signal uniformity through efficient marking based on keeping the low noise features. In the diagnosis of intracranial stenosis and occlusive disease, the stability of improved silent MRA imaging improves the diagnostic efficiency of stenosis to a certain extent.

Objective:A case of cystic fibrosis admitted in the Respiratory Department of Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University in June 2018 and underwent lung transplantation later was analyzed retrospectively.A 10-year-old girl had intermittent productive cough for more than 4 years with clubbed-finger.The lung high resolution CT (HRCT) showed bronchiectasis and mucus impaction, and the nasal sinus HRCT showed sinusitis.She had cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator ( CFTR) gene complex heterozygous mutation and positive sweat test.The immunoglobulin E (IgE) level and eosinophil count increased, and aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgE was positive.She was diagnosed as cystic fibrosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and sinusitis.Anti-infection, glucocorticoid and symptomatic treatment were given.During the following 21 months, the child had repeated respiratory difficulties and respiratory failure.Her lung function declined.Bilateral lung transplantation was performed in March 2020.She had a good recovery at more than 1 year and 3 months postoperatively.

ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics of death and premature death of 4 major chronic diseases （cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases， malignant tumors， chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes） in Taizhou City from 2011 to 2018，and provide data basis for the government to formulate chronic disease prevention planning. MethodsThe death data of household registration residents in Taizhou City from 2011 to 2018 were derived from the Chronic Disease Surveillance Information Management System in Zhejiang Province. The death toll ratio of chronic diseases， the mortality rate of chronic diseases， the probability of premature death of chronic diseases were analyzed. The standardization rate was calculated six times in 2010. Population composition of the census. The Joinpoint Regression Program 4.2 software was used for calculating annual percent change （APC） and its statistical test results. ResultsFrom 2011 to 2018， there were 231 724 chronic disease deaths in Taizhou City， with a mortality rate of 486.52/10⁵ and a standardized mortality rate of 381.55/10⁵. The proportion of chronic disease deaths to total deaths was 79.89%， of which males were higher than females and rural areas were higher than urban areas.From 2011 to 2018， the standardized mortality and early death probability of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases， malignant tumors and chronic respiratory diseases in Taizhou showed a downward trend （P<0.05）， the standardized mortality of diabetes （P=0.46） and the early death probability （P=0.22） did not decline， and the mortality of all age groups of the above four types of chronic diseases in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas. The mortality of the four types of chronic diseases from high to low are cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases， malignant tumors， chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes， and the mortality tends to increase with age. From 2011 to 2018， the probability of premature death from four types of chronic diseases in Taizhou City showed a downward trend， from 13.49% in 2011 to 10.49% in 2018， with an average annual decrease of 2.97%. The difference was statistically significant （t=‒5.83，P<0.05）. ConclusionChronic disease death is the main cause of death in Taizhou City. In order to reduce the mortality rate of chronic diseases， effective prevention and control measures for chronic diseases should be carried out， especially the prevention and control of diabetes and male chronic diseases.