Objective:To construct nomogram model based on lymph node imaging parameters for predicting the risk of lymph node metastasis in lung malignancies.Methods:From November 2020 to September 2022, 34 patients (23 males, 11 females, age (65.8±6.8) years) diagnosed with lung malignancies by pathology at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University were prospectively collected. Based on enhanced CT and 99Tc m-hydrazinonicotinamide-(polyethylene glycol) 4-E((polyethylene glycol) 4-c((Arg-Gly-Asp)fK)) 2 (HYNIC-PEG 4-E(PEG 4-c(RGDfK)) 2; 3PRGD 2)SPECT/CT imaging, referring to the mediastinal lymph node zoning standards formulated by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, lymph nodes with clear pathological properties and imaging locations were included in the study. Lymph nodes were randomly divide into a training group and a validation group at a ratio of 7∶3. Differences of imaging parameters between positive and negative lymph node metastasis were compared by independent-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test. Parameters with statistical differences were incorporate into the multivariate logistic regression equation, and a joint variable diagnostic model for predicting lymph node metastasis was generated. The potential of the model was evaluate by ROC curve analysis, calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results:Among 34 patients with malignant lung tumors, 11 had lymph node metastasis. A total of 174 lymph nodes met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a training group of 114 nodes and a validation group of 60 nodes. In the training group and validation group, there were statistically significant differences in lymph node length, lymph node short diameter, lymph node length/short diameter, necrosis, lymph node to mediastinal blood pool radioactive count ratio (T/B), lymph node to liver radioactive count ratio (T/L), lymph node to muscle radioactive count ratio (T/M), and lymph node enhancement mode between patients with positive and negative lymph node metastasis ( χ2 values: 3.89-34.06, t values: 2.31-3.87, Z values: from -3.63 to -2.30, all P<0.05). The lymph node edge was different only in the training group ( χ2=5.62, P=0.018). Finally, the lymph node length/short diameter, edge, necrosis, T/B, T/L, T/M, and lymph node enhancement modes were included in the multivariate logistic regression prediction model, with the AUCs of 0.878 and 0.949 in the training and validation groups, respectively. The calibration curve showed good consistency between the predicted results and the actual results, and DCA showed that the nomogram had clinical practicality. Conclusion:The nomogram model constructed based on the imaging parameters of lymph nodes can evaluate the risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with lung malignancies, providing a convenient and objective tool for determining staging and developing treatment plans.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), highly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts, is closely related to changes in the tumor microenvironment. Radionuclide-labeled FAP inhibitor (FAPI) is a novel tumor therapeutic agent targeting FAP. It can specifically bind to FAP and emit radiation-killing signals, and has been gradually applied to tumor radionuclide internal radiation therapy (IRT). This review summarizes the research progress of various FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals in tumor radionuclide IRT, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of their intrinsic properties and promote broader clinical applications.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is overexpressed not only in cancer-associated fibroblasts, but also in bone and joint diseases. With the continuous expansion of the application range of radionuclide labeled FAP inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT imaging, it has gradually shown a good potential in the clinical diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of bone and joint diseases. This paper reviews the animal and clinical studies of radionuclide-labeled FAPI PET/CT imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint diseases like tumors, inflammation, Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) and so on, aiming to further explore the characteristics of FAPI and expand the scope of clinical application.

The human norepinephrine transporter(hNET)is expressed in neural crest-derived tumors, such as neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, and paraganglioma. 18F-meta-fluorobenzylguanidine (MFBG) has high affinity and specificity for hNET, and has been gradually applied to PET/CT imaging in neural crest-derived tumors. The application of 18F-MFBG PET/CT imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of neural crest-derived tumors is reviewed in this article.

Molecular probes targeting the 18×10 3 translocator protein (TSPO) have the ability to identify and monitor tissue inflammation. Their application has expanded from neurological disorders to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), showing promising clinical translational potential in both diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation. This paper introduces the application and value of PET imaging using various generations of TSPO-targeted molecular probes in CVD, including atherosclerosis, acute myocardial infarction, large vessel vasculitis, and others.

Objective: To determine the expression of melanoma-associated antigens D4(MAGED4) and SIRT7 in human glioma, and to analyze the potential effects of MAGED4 and SIRT7 on glioma cell proliferation. Methods: The MAGED4 and SIRT7 expression levels and their correlation were compared by the China glioma genome atlas(CGGA), human protein atlas(HPA), and UALCAN databases. Survival analysis, ROC curve analysis, and Cox regression analysis were used to predict the outcome of MAGED4 and SIRT 7 in glioma patients. Gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis were used to explore the biological functions of MAGED4 and SIRT7 in glioma. Western blot experiment was used to investigate whether MAGED4 protein exerted its regulatory effects on the activity of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway via SIRT7. The effect of MAGED4 on cell proliferation in glioma through SIRT7 was explored by CCK-8. Results: The analysis results of CGGA, UALCAN, and HPA databases showed that the expression levels of MAGED4 and SIRT7 in glioma tissues were higher than those in normal brain tissue, and the expression were positively correlated. Results of survival, ROC, and Cox analysis showed that high expression of MAGED4 and SIRT7 mRNA were risk factors for poor prognosis in glioma. Results of KEGG enrichment analysis showed that MAGED4 and SIRT7 were associated with the PI3K/AKT signaling in glioma, and Western blot results showed that MAGED4 activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by regulating SIRT7. The CCK-8 results showed that MAGED4 promotes the proliferation of glioma cells through SIRT7. Conclusion MAGED4 and SIRT7 are highly expressed in glioma and associated with poor prognosis, and MAGED4 promotes glioma cell proliferation through activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by SIRT7.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Lingnan fire needling in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.Methods A total of 60 cases of patients with plaque psoriasis admitted to Bao'an Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from August 2021 to January 2023 were selected,and the patients were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group according to the random number table method,with 30 cases in each group.The observation group was given Lingnan fire needling for treatment,and the control group was given topical application of Calcipotriol Ointment.The course of treatment covered eight weeks continuously.After eight weeks of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index(PASI)scores and Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI)scores,as well as the diameter of glomus under dermoscopy of the patients in the two groups were observed before the treatment and after 2,4,6,and 8 weeks of treatment.Changes in Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale(GAD-7)scores before treatment and after 2,4,6,and 8 weeks of treatment were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After 2,4,6 and 8 weeks of treatment,the scores of PASI,DLQI and GAD-7 of patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P<0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).(2)The cured and markedly rate of the observation group was 86.67%(26/30);and that of the control group was 66.67%(20/30).The efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).(3)After 2,4,6,and 8 weeks of treatment,the diameter of glomus under dermoscopy of the patients in the two groups were improved significantly(P<0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Lingnan fire needling therapy for plaque psoriasis can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of the patients,relieve the anxiety symptoms induced by skin lesions and itching,so as to improve their quality of life.

Objective:To apply statistical process control (SPC) techniques to the quality assurance of non-normal radiotherapy plans through Johnson transformation, establishing patient-specific tolerance and action limits based on treatment sites and dose/distance assessment criteria, thereby enhancing the intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) verification accuracy and dose delivery precision.Methods:In this study, 951 gamma analysis data of patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) executed on the Halcyon accelerator platform were selected and categorized into six groups based on treatment sites, including brain (102 cases), head and neck (100 cases), breast (229 cases), lung (154 cases), esophagus (223 cases), and pelvic (143 cases) groups. The six groups of data were statistically analyzed through Anderson-Darling normality tests ( α = 0.05) using Minitab 21 software. Non-normal data were transformed into normal data through Johnson transformation and then were used to establish treatment site-specific tolerance and action limits, which were compared with the Shewhart control charts based on normal distributions. Results:The PSQA result of the six groups all exhibited non-normal distributions ( P < 0.05). Through Johnson transformation, the tolerance and action limits for the head and neck, breast, lung, esophagus, and pelvic areas under the 3%/2 mm criterion ranged from 95.13% to 96.16% and 94.19% to 95.91%, respectively. In contrast, the tolerance and action limits ranged from 91.15% to 94.86% and 89.94% to 94.78% under the 2%/2 mm criterion. Directly applying Shewhart control charts without normality assumptions yielded higher tolerance limits compared to the application of Johnson transformation, increasing the false positive rate in the non-normal PSQA process. Conclusions:Applying the SPC techniques directly to a non-normal process can lead to an increased false alarm rate and wrong process interpretation. The SPC techniques combined with Johnson transformation enable more effective monitoring of a non-normal PSQA process, facilitating timely identification of potential factors that may lead to an out-of-control process based on the treatment site-specific limits.

Objective:To apply statistical process control (SPC) techniques to the quality assurance of non-normal radiotherapy plans through Johnson transformation, establishing patient-specific tolerance and action limits based on treatment sites and dose/distance assessment criteria, thereby enhancing the intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) verification accuracy and dose delivery precision.Methods:In this study, 951 gamma analysis data of patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) executed on the Halcyon accelerator platform were selected and categorized into six groups based on treatment sites, including brain (102 cases), head and neck (100 cases), breast (229 cases), lung (154 cases), esophagus (223 cases), and pelvic (143 cases) groups. The six groups of data were statistically analyzed through Anderson-Darling normality tests ( α = 0.05) using Minitab 21 software. Non-normal data were transformed into normal data through Johnson transformation and then were used to establish treatment site-specific tolerance and action limits, which were compared with the Shewhart control charts based on normal distributions. Results:The PSQA result of the six groups all exhibited non-normal distributions ( P < 0.05). Through Johnson transformation, the tolerance and action limits for the head and neck, breast, lung, esophagus, and pelvic areas under the 3%/2 mm criterion ranged from 95.13% to 96.16% and 94.19% to 95.91%, respectively. In contrast, the tolerance and action limits ranged from 91.15% to 94.86% and 89.94% to 94.78% under the 2%/2 mm criterion. Directly applying Shewhart control charts without normality assumptions yielded higher tolerance limits compared to the application of Johnson transformation, increasing the false positive rate in the non-normal PSQA process. Conclusions:Applying the SPC techniques directly to a non-normal process can lead to an increased false alarm rate and wrong process interpretation. The SPC techniques combined with Johnson transformation enable more effective monitoring of a non-normal PSQA process, facilitating timely identification of potential factors that may lead to an out-of-control process based on the treatment site-specific limits.

Objective:To construct nomogram model based on lymph node imaging parameters for predicting the risk of lymph node metastasis in lung malignancies.Methods:From November 2020 to September 2022, 34 patients (23 males, 11 females, age (65.8±6.8) years) diagnosed with lung malignancies by pathology at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University were prospectively collected. Based on enhanced CT and 99Tc m-hydrazinonicotinamide-(polyethylene glycol) 4-E((polyethylene glycol) 4-c((Arg-Gly-Asp)fK)) 2 (HYNIC-PEG 4-E(PEG 4-c(RGDfK)) 2; 3PRGD 2)SPECT/CT imaging, referring to the mediastinal lymph node zoning standards formulated by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, lymph nodes with clear pathological properties and imaging locations were included in the study. Lymph nodes were randomly divide into a training group and a validation group at a ratio of 7∶3. Differences of imaging parameters between positive and negative lymph node metastasis were compared by independent-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test or χ2 test. Parameters with statistical differences were incorporate into the multivariate logistic regression equation, and a joint variable diagnostic model for predicting lymph node metastasis was generated. The potential of the model was evaluate by ROC curve analysis, calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results:Among 34 patients with malignant lung tumors, 11 had lymph node metastasis. A total of 174 lymph nodes met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a training group of 114 nodes and a validation group of 60 nodes. In the training group and validation group, there were statistically significant differences in lymph node length, lymph node short diameter, lymph node length/short diameter, necrosis, lymph node to mediastinal blood pool radioactive count ratio (T/B), lymph node to liver radioactive count ratio (T/L), lymph node to muscle radioactive count ratio (T/M), and lymph node enhancement mode between patients with positive and negative lymph node metastasis ( χ2 values: 3.89-34.06, t values: 2.31-3.87, Z values: from -3.63 to -2.30, all P<0.05). The lymph node edge was different only in the training group ( χ2=5.62, P=0.018). Finally, the lymph node length/short diameter, edge, necrosis, T/B, T/L, T/M, and lymph node enhancement modes were included in the multivariate logistic regression prediction model, with the AUCs of 0.878 and 0.949 in the training and validation groups, respectively. The calibration curve showed good consistency between the predicted results and the actual results, and DCA showed that the nomogram had clinical practicality. Conclusion:The nomogram model constructed based on the imaging parameters of lymph nodes can evaluate the risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with lung malignancies, providing a convenient and objective tool for determining staging and developing treatment plans.