Objective:To explore the application effect of case-based learning (CBL) and lecture-based learning (LBL) in the teaching of image post-processing course in the standardized training system of medical imaging technology.Methods:A total of 34 trainees in the standardized training of imaging technology of Batch 2018 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were divided into the experimental group and the control group according to their student numbers, with 17 students in each group. CBL teaching was carried out in the experimental group, and LBL teaching was carried out in the control group. According to the standardized training course design, after one year of image post-processing course teaching, the teaching effect was evaluated through closed-book examination, questionnaire survey and post-processing test. SPSS 20.0 was used for t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The scores of closed-book examinations (74.42±6.10) and post-processing test (73.47±6.03) in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group [(69.11±3.70) and (69.08±6.51)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The questionnaire survey showed that the students in the experimental group recognized CBL teaching in terms of learning interests stimulation, classroom atmosphere mobilization, clinical thinking cultivation, self-study ability training, and analysis of difficult and rare cases, etc. Conclusion:In the image post-processing course of standardized training of medical imaging technology, the rational application of CBL teaching mode is helpful to improve students' learning enthusiasm, self-learning ability, comprehensive analysis of clinical ability, practical ability, innovation consciousness and so on.

Combing with the professional characteristics of imaging technology, Radiological Department of West China Hospital, Sichuan University established the STAR training model for imaging technologists to cultivate the scientific research quality of young technicians, which includes sub-professional group training, tutor responsibility system, arrangement of research time, and reading-film session of technologists. Practice shows that this training model has made a series of achievements so far, such as that the number of publishing articles, funds application, authorized patents and oral presentation at international congress has been significantly increased. In addition, there is a high recognition of the STAR training model among young imaging technologists. Therefore, the STAR model can stimulate the scientific research passion of young technologists, and improve their scientific research capability.

Objective:To explore the application effect of case-based learning (CBL) combined with problem-based learning (PBL) teaching model in refresher training of medical imaging technologists.Methods:The study recruited 46 imaging technologists trained in radiology department in the Batch 2017 and Batch 2018 of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. They were divided into 2 groups: experimental group (23 persons) and control group (23 persons). CBL combined with PBL teaching method was used in the experimental group, and traditional lecture-based learning (LBL) method was used in the control group. The results of attitude evaluation, staged exminations, graduation assessment and operational skill tests were compared between the two groups, and the questionnaire survey was performed to test the affirmation of self-worth of the two groups of interns. SPSS 17.0 was used for chi-square test, independent t test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:Theoretical examination results at the second stage, the third stage, completion and operational examination results in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(91.17±2.59) vs. (85.26±3.03), (92.00±1.86) vs. (87.43±3.23), (92.39±2.08) vs. (87.04±2.93), (85.70±5.48) vs. (80.87±5.57), P<0.05]. The questionnaire survey showed that such 7 aspects as the stimulation of subject interest, the cultivation of exploration spirit, the exercise of self-learning ability, the establishment of clinical ideas, the analysis of difficult problems, the mastering of practical operations, and the affirmation of self-worth in the experimental group were better than those in the control group, with significant difference ( P<0.05), while the consolidation of theoretical knowledge of the experimental group was not statistically different from the control group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The reasonable application of CBL combined with PBL teaching model in refresher training of medical imaging technologists is helpful to improve their learning enthusiasm, self-learning ability, clinical analysis ability, practical operation ability, and long-term consolidation of theoretical knowledge.

The Department of Radiology of West China Hospital of Sichuan University provides us a teaching model that image-reading combined with problem-based learning (PBL) for radiographer once a month. Based on the problem images and typical cases, after careful image-reading, radiographer is guided to think positively and propose specific solutions to the problems. Then designated personnel gives a detail lecture on related diseases, imaging performance, diagnostic requirements, conventional scanning schemes, operating specifications, common problems and image post-processing, etc., which aims at taking continuing education for radiographers.

Clinical practice of medical imaging technology undergraduates is a key link in the transformation from imaging technology students to imaging technologists. However, there are a series of problems leading to poor practice effect, e.g., imaging technology involves a lot of learning contents, and the teachers' level is uneven. Based on the above problems, some improvements have been implemented, including the establishment of the admission lecture system and tutor responsibility system, application of pluralistic teaching methods, standardizing the examination system of interns, flexible adjustment of practice time arrangements, training of practice teaching team, and so on. Finally, the quality and effect of undergraduate practice teaching in medical imaging technology has been improved significantly.

Objective:To explore the efficiency of MR psychoradiology examination in screening and classification of psychiatric disorders as well as its potential clinical application.Methods:Retrospective study was conducted for 144 patients with MR psychoradiology examination, who were diagnosed mental disorders based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems Tenth Revision (ICD-10) from September 2018 to July 2020 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. As our previous studies, imaging diagnostic models were constructed based on gray matter volume (GMV) analysis for four kinds of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. For 120 patients with psychiatric disorders, the GMV change pattern of brain regions was detected and subtyped by MR psychoradiology examination with 50% similarity threshold of the above imaging diagnostic models. The diagnostic efficiency of MR psychoradiology examination was evaluated with references of clinical diagnose. For 24 patients with dementia, brain atrophy was additionally measured by conventional MR examination and MR psychoradiology examination respectively.Results:The sensitivity, specificity, Youden index and accuracy of MR psychoradiology in identifying the four psychiatric disorders were 86.6% (84/97), 69.6% (16/23), 0.56 and 83.3% (100/120), including depression [77.8% (28/36), 69.0% (58/84), 0.47, 71.7% (86/120)], schizophrenia [58.8% (10/17), 91.3% (94/103), 0.50, 86.7% (104/120)], bipolar disorder [42.1% (8/19), 96.0% (97/101), 0.38, 87.5% (105/120)] and anxiety disorder [24.0% (6/25), 100% (95/95), 0.24, 84.2% (101/120)]. As for 24 patients with dementia, 58.3% (14/24) were detected with brain atrophy by conventional MR examination, while 91.7% (22/24) were detected by MR psychoradiology examination.Conclusions:MR psychoradiology can detect the subtle brain structural abnormalities of patients with mental disorders. Although it can′t be used as an independent biomarker for disease diagnosis till now, it is of great help in improving the accuracy and objectivity of diagnosis.

Objective:To analyze clinical, laboratory and imaging characteristics of different subtypes of linear morphea (LM) , and to propose an appropriate approach to the diagnosis and severity assessment of LM.Methods:Clinical data were collected from patients with clinically and/or pathologically confirmed LM in Department of Dermatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2018 to December 2019, and retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 107 patients with LM were enrolled into this study, including 63 with LM of the limbs/trunk, 22 with morphea en coup de sabre, 11 with progressive hemifacial atrophy and 11 with eosinophilic fasciitis. Disease severity was evaluated by using the modified localized scleroderma skin severity index (mLoSSI) and localized scleroderma skin damage index (LoSDI) scores in 88 patients, with the mLoSSI scores ranging from 0 to 51 points, and the LoSDI scores ranging from 0 to 40 points. Routine blood examination of 10 patients with eosinophilic fasciitis showed increased eosinophil counts in 4 patients. Thirteen (14.8%) of 88 patients with LM were positive for antinuclear antibody, with titers of ≥ 1∶320. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination showed ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere atrophy and contralateral white matter hyperintensity on T2-weighted images in 2 out of 4 patients with progressive hemifacial atrophy, myofascial thickening in 26 out of 28 patients with LM of the limbs/trunk (92.9%) , subcutaneous septal and myofascial thickening in all 11 patients with eosinophilic fasciitis.Conclusions:The preliminary assessment of disease activity, severity and prognosis of LM can be made by mLoSSI and LoSDI. MRI examination is recommended for patients with clinical signs of involvement of subcutaneous structures.

Objective:To explore the application effect of case-based learning combined with problem-based learning teaching model in refresher training of medical imaging technologists.Methods:The study recruited 46 imaging technologists trained in radiology department in the Batch 2017 and Batch 2018 of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. They were divided into 2 groups: experimental group (23 persons) and control group (23 persons). Case-based learning combined with problem-based learning teaching method was used in the experimental group, and traditional lecture-based learning method was used in the control group. 2 test was used for sex distribution comparisons between the two groups, and independent t test was conducted to compare the differences in age, working years, entrance examination results, attitude rating scores, stage examination scores, completion examination scores, and operational examination scores between the two groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons of non-parametric variables between the two groups, such as qualifications, occupation title, and questionnaire results.Results:Theoretical examination results at the second stage, the third stage, completion and operational examination results in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group [(91.17±2.59) vs. (85.26±3.03), (92.00±1.86) vs. (87.43±3.23), (92.39±2.08) vs. (87.04±2.93), (85.70±5.48) vs. (80.87±5.57), P<0.05]. The questionnaire survey showed that the stimulation of subject interest, the cultivation of exploration spirit, the exercise of self-learning ability, the establishment of clinical ideas, the analysis of difficult problems, the mastering of practical operations, and the affirmation of self-worth in the experimental group were better than those in the control group, with significant difference [4(3, 4) scores vs. 3(2, 3) scores, 4(3, 4) scores vs. 2(2, 3) scores, 3(3, 4) scores vs. 2(2, 3) scores, 3(3, 4) scores vs. 3(2, 3) scores, 3(3, 4) scores vs. 2(2, 3) scores, 4(3, 4) scores vs. 3(2, 3) scores, 4(3, 4) scores vs. 3(2, 3) scores, P<0.05], while the consolidation of theoretical knowledge of the experimental group was not different from the control group [3(2, 3) scores vs. 3(2, 3) scores, P>0.05]. Conclusions:The reasonable application of case-based learning combined with problem-based learning teaching model in refresher training of medical imaging technologists is helpful to improve their learning enthusiasm, self-learning ability, clinical analysis ability, practical operation ability, and long-term consolidation of theoretical knowledge, and it also can contribute to affirmation of self-worth.

Objective To investigate the application value of multiple?arterial?phase imaging technique with differential sub?sampling with cartesian ordering (DISCO) in the gadoxetate acid disodium enhanced liver MRI. Methods From September 2017 to March 2018, 56 patients with suspected malignant focal liver disease diagnosed with ultrasound or CT in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were enrolled prospectively, and underwent preoperative enhanced MRI with gadoxetate acid disodium. Patients were divided into 2 groups by random?number table method. Twenty nine patients in group A underwent liver multiple?arterial?phase imaging with DISCO. Twenty seven patients in group B underwent single?arterial?phase imaging with liver acquisition with volume acceleration?flex (LAVA?Flex). The display rate of late?arterial?phase and respiratory motion artifacts of dynamic enhancement images were evaluated. The categorical variables was compared by Chi?square test. The respiratory motion artifacts between the single?arterial?phase and multiple?arterial?phases were compared by Mann?Whitney U test. The artifact scores among the various phases of the multi?arterial phase were compared by Kruskal?Wallis H. Results Compared to LAVA?Flex [74.1%(20/27)], a higher display rate of late?arterial phase [96.6%(28/29)] was found in DISCO (Group A), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=5.770, P=0.016). In the evaluation of respiratory motion artifacts, the motion artifacts of the late?arterial images obtained by LAVA?Flex [3(3,4)] were more severe than the DISCO [2(2,3)], and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.250, P<0.01). Among the scores of motion artifacts in the 6 phases of DISCO, the artifact scores of phase 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 were [3(3,4)], [2(2,3)], [2(2,3)], [3(2,3)], [3(3,4)] and [3(3,4)], respectively. The motion artifacts of phase 2, 3, 4 were better than phase 1, 5, 6, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05), but there was no statistical differences among phase 2, 3 and 4 (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with single?arterial?phase imaging, multiple?arterial?phases with DISCO using gadoxetate acid disodium can improve the capture rate of late arterial phase and reduce motion artifacts.

Objective To investigate the value of multi?arterial phase differential sub?sampling with cartesian ordering (DISCO) technique in the evaluation of hepatic vascular anatomy with gadolinium?ethoxybenzyl?diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd?EOB?DTPA). Methods Forty?eight patients with suspected hepatic malignancy were prospectively enrolled and underwent both of Gd?EOB?DTPA enhanced DISCO MRI and CTA within two weeks. The hepatic arterial anatomy of two examination methods were evaluated by four?point scoring method. The arterial scores between DISCO and CTA images were compared by Wilcoxon test. The difference among multiple arterial scores of DISCO and CTA were compared by Kruskal?Wallis H test respectively. Results There was no difference of arterial scores in celiac artery, common hepatic artery, proper hepatic artery, left hepatic artery, right hepatic artery, first branch of right hepatic artery, splenic artery, left gastric artery and gastroduodenal artery between DISCO and CTA (P>0.05), but the arterial score of first branch of left hepatic artery [2 (2,2)] was lower than that of CTA [2 (2,3)] (Z=-3.138,P=0.002). In the multiple comparison among different arteries, there were differences between PHA and LAH (P<0.05), B?LHA and B?RHA (P<0.05) in DISCO, but no difference was found in CTA (P>0.05). Conclusion The DISCO sequence with Gd?EOB?DTPA enhancement MRI can supply comparable image quality to CTA in hepatic artery and its main branches display, which has no ionizing radiation and can also provide more diagnostic information for clinic.