Objective To investigate the relationship between brain white matter lesions (WML) and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index in non-diabetic elderly individuals based on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods A total of 523 non-diabetic elderly individuals aged ≥ 60 years were selected from Jinan, Shandong Province, China from June 2018 to December 2019. According to the quartiles of TyG index, there were 133 participants in the first quartile (Q1) group, 127 in the second quartile (Q2) group, 132 in the third quartile (Q3) group, and 131 in the fourth quartile (Q4) group. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate paraventricular, deep, and total WML volumes, as well as Fazekas scores. Results Compared with Q1, Q2, and Q3 groups, Q4 group showed significant increase in periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (P < 0.05). The proportion of participants with a Fazekas score ≥ 2 in the periventricular, deep, and total WML was higher in the Q4 group compared with the Q1 and Q2 groups (P < 0.05). The proportion of participants with a Fazekas score ≥ 2 in deep WML was higher in Q4 group than in Q3 group (P < 0.05). TyG index was significantly positively correlated with periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (r = 0.401, 0.405, and 0.445, P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, TyG index was still significantly positively correlated with periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with Q1 group, the risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in periventricular WML was 1.950-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.154-3.294, P = 0.013) in Q3 group and 3.411-fold (95% CI: 1.984-5.863, P < 0.001) in Q4 group, the risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in total WML was 2.529-fold (95%CI: 1.444-4.430, P = 0.001) in Q3 group and 4.486-fold (95%CI: 2.314-8.696, P < 0.001) in Q4 group. The risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in deep WML was 2.953-fold (95%CI: 1.708-5.106, P < 0.001) in Q4 group compared with Q1 group. Conclusion Increased TyG index is an independent risk factor for WML in non-diabetic elderly individuals.

Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A prospective cohort study enrolled 42 patients with clinically suspected acute cerebrovascular disease and those undergoing follow-up examinations after intracranial vascular stenting at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2024 to May 2025. All patients underwent UHR PCD-CT examinations of the head and neck. Reconstructions were performed based on raw data, yielding conventional standard resolution (SR group) reconstructions and UHR images reconstructed using four distinct convolution kernels (Hv40, Hv48, Hv56, Hv64) in separate groups (Hv40 UHR group, Hv48 UHR group, Hv56 UHR group, Hv64 UHR group). Regions of interest were selected in the anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery, and anterior communicating artery. CT values and standard deviation (SD) values were measured for each artery, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Additionally, the sharpness of the vessel edges and the full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) of each artery were measured. One-way analysis of variance or the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the subjective and objective image quality metrics across the five groups. Pairwise comparisons were performed using the LSD test or Dunn method.Results:Statistically significant differences were observed in the overall comparison of vascular imaging SD, SNR, CNR, vascular edge sharpness, and FWHM among the SR group, Hv40 UHR group, Hv48 UHR group, Hv56 UHR group, and Hv64 UHR group ( P<0.05). No statistically significant differences in CT values were found ( P>0.05). Pairwise comparisons revealed statistically significant differences between all groups ( P<0.05), except that no significant differences were observed in image SD, SNR, CNR, vascular edge sharpness, or FWHM between the Hv56 UHR and Hv64 UHR groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:UHR PCD-CT provides better image quality for neurovascular imaging. For the display of small intracranial vessels, the Hv64 provides sharper vessel walls and better subjective image quality compared to the less sharp convolutional cores.Objective:To explore the value of ultra-high resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) to improve the quality of neurovascular images.

Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A prospective cohort study enrolled 42 patients with clinically suspected acute cerebrovascular disease and those undergoing follow-up examinations after intracranial vascular stenting at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2024 to May 2025. All patients underwent UHR PCD-CT examinations of the head and neck. Reconstructions were performed based on raw data, yielding conventional standard resolution (SR group) reconstructions and UHR images reconstructed using four distinct convolution kernels (Hv40, Hv48, Hv56, Hv64) in separate groups (Hv40 UHR group, Hv48 UHR group, Hv56 UHR group, Hv64 UHR group). Regions of interest were selected in the anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery, and anterior communicating artery. CT values and standard deviation (SD) values were measured for each artery, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Additionally, the sharpness of the vessel edges and the full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) of each artery were measured. One-way analysis of variance or the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the subjective and objective image quality metrics across the five groups. Pairwise comparisons were performed using the LSD test or Dunn method.Results:Statistically significant differences were observed in the overall comparison of vascular imaging SD, SNR, CNR, vascular edge sharpness, and FWHM among the SR group, Hv40 UHR group, Hv48 UHR group, Hv56 UHR group, and Hv64 UHR group ( P<0.05). No statistically significant differences in CT values were found ( P>0.05). Pairwise comparisons revealed statistically significant differences between all groups ( P<0.05), except that no significant differences were observed in image SD, SNR, CNR, vascular edge sharpness, or FWHM between the Hv56 UHR and Hv64 UHR groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:UHR PCD-CT provides better image quality for neurovascular imaging. For the display of small intracranial vessels, the Hv64 provides sharper vessel walls and better subjective image quality compared to the less sharp convolutional cores.Objective:To explore the value of ultra-high resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) to improve the quality of neurovascular images.

Objective To investigate the value of coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)for the non-invasive discrimination of chronic total occlusion(CTO)and subtotal occlu-sion(SO).Methods A total of 134 elderly patients undergoing CCTA and invasive coronary angio-graphy in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled,and assigned into CTO group(62 cases)and SO(72 cases)according to the results of the examinations.Occlusion length,shape of proximal stump(blunt/conical),and collateral vessels were measured as anatomical find-ings.Transluminal attenuation gradient was obtained by a post-processing software.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore factors related to CTO.Re-stricted cubic splines with three knots at the 10th,50th,and 90th percentiles were used to flexibly model the association of the factors with CTO,and ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the per-formance.Results Diabetes(OR=0.423,95％CI:0.186-0.963),occlusion length(OR=1.088,95％CI:1.031-1.148)and blunt-shaped stump(OR=2.453,95％CI:1.042-5.773)were inde-pendent predictors for discriminating CTO and SO(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC value of occlusion length in the discrimination was 0.718(95％CI:0.634-0.792,P=0.001).Conclusion CCTA can be used to discriminate CTO and SO in elderly patients.

Objective To explore the predictive value of systemic immune inflammatory index(SII),systemic inflammatory response index(SIRI),neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR),lymphocyte to monocyte ratio(LMR),platelet to lymphocyte radio(PLR),albumin to globulin(AGR)and heat shock protein 90α(HSP90α)in Fuhrman grade of clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC).Methods From October 2019 to August 2022,212 patients who underwent surgical treatment for ccRCC were divided into low-grade tumor group and high-grade tumor group according to Fuhrman grade.The independent influencing factors of Fuhrman grading were determined by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,and the predictive value of each inflammatory index to Fuhrman grading was evaluated by drawing Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC).We constructed the line chart prediction model and evaluated the effectiveness of the model.Results The preoperative levels of SII,PLR,AGR,HSP90α and the maximum diameter of tumor were significantly different between high-grade group and low-grade group(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum diameter of tumor,PLR,AGR and HSP90α were independent influencing factors of Furhman grade.By drawing the ROC curve,it was found that the area under the curve(AUC)of PLR,AGR and HSP90α to predict Furhman grade were 0.641,0.675 and 0.696.In addition,the Furhman grade line chart prediction model had good prediction ability,the AUC was 0.789(95％CI:0.717～0.862),the sensitivity was 61.80％,and the specificity was 85.40％.Conclusions There was a significant correlation between inflammation-related indexes in peripheral blood and Furhman grade of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.The Furhman grade line chart prediction model based on the maximum diameter of tumor and peripheral blood inflammation index has good predictive ability.

Objective:To develop a simple, practical and repeatable ultrasound method to locate the muscle at the trigger point of female myofascial pelvic pain(MPP), which can provide imaging reference for clinical precision treatment.Methods:A total of 113 patients with suspected MPP who came to the Women′s Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University from September 1, 2021 to April 20, 2023 were prospectively selected. The gynecologist performed internal examination with index finger on some pelvic floor muscles (puborectalis, pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus, coccygeus) and pelvic wall muscles (piriformis and obturator internus) respectively, searched for the muscles where the pain trigger point was located, and scored the pain by referring to visual analogue scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale (NRS), and then referred the patients to the ultrasound department. The ultrasound doctor used transvaginal ultrasound to display the above muscle groups in real time for observation and appropriate pressure. The muscle where the painful trigger point was located was found through tenderness and the pain score was performed. The two scores were compared for consistency and difference analysis.Results:The trigger point was clear and of good reproducibility. For the location and score of pain trigger points located in bilateral puborectalis, pubococcygeus and coccygeus, there was a strong consistency between the tenderness guided by vaginal ultrasound probe and clinical palpation (the consistency rate was ≥70%), and there was no significant difference in the pain scores of the trigger points located in the puborectalis muscle and coccygeal muscle between the two methods ( P>0.05), and there was statistically significant difference in the pain scores of the trigger points located in the other pelvic floor and pelvic wall muscles (all P<0.05). At the same time, ultrasonic examination made up for the deficiency of clinical palpation in the evaluation of piriformis muscle. Conclusions:The present method for finding the trigger point of MPP guided by the ultrasound probe is a new non-invasive, safe, simple and practical imaging method, which can provide a new imaging reference for the clinical diagnosis of MPP and the formulation of treatment strategies.

Recording the highly diverse and dynamic activities in large populations of neurons in behaving animals is crucial for a better understanding of how the brain works. To meet this challenge, extensive efforts have been devoted to developing functional fluorescent indicators and optical imaging techniques to optically monitor neural activity. Indeed, optical imaging potentially has extremely high throughput due to its non-invasive access to large brain regions and capability to sample neurons at high density, but the readout speed, such as the scanning speed in two-photon scanning microscopy, is often limited by various practical considerations. Among different imaging methods, light field microscopy features a highly parallelized 3D fluorescence imaging scheme and therefore promises a novel and faster strategy for functional imaging of neural activity. Here, we briefly review the working principles of various types of light field microscopes and their recent developments and applications in neuroscience studies. We also discuss strategies and considerations of optimizing light field microscopy for different experimental purposes, with illustrative examples in imaging zebrafish and mouse brains.
Animals ; Mice ; Microscopy/methods* ; Zebrafish ; Neurons/physiology* ; Brain/physiology* ; Neurosciences

Objective To identify the pathogenesis gene mutation of a pedigree with Cockayne syndrome.Methods The peripheral blood samples of the patient and his family members were collected and the genomic DNA was then extracted.Whole exome sequencing(WES)was performed for proband′s DNA.The disease-causing mutations were identified by bioinformatics analysis and pedigree analysis. Meanwhile,the mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing.Results Two novel mutations in ERCC8 gene,including c.400-2A >G and c.394_398delATGTA(p.L132fs)were identified in proband.The splicing mutation originated from his father and changed the splice acceptor site AG to GG, thus possibly caused alternative splicing.The c.394_398delATGTA(p.L132fs)frameshifting mutation was inherited from his mother.The proband′s sister also carried the same compound heterozygous mutation and had the same phenotype as proband.Conclusion The pathogenesis ERCC8 gene mutation of this pedigree with Cockayne syndrome was identified by using whole exome sequencing.

Objective: To investigate the vitamin A nutritional status of 6- to 17-year-old urban children and adolescents by analyzing serum retinol level, between 2010 and 2012 in China. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Nutrition and Health Survey in 2010-2012. Using multi-stage stratified sampling and the population proportional stratified random sampling method, 6 617 children aged 6-17 years from 32 metropolis and 41 middle-sized and small cities of China were selected. The questionnaire survey was used to collect demographic information. Blood samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography to determine serum retinol concentration, and the World Health Organization guidelines were used to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin A. Vitamin A levels, vitamin A deficiency, and marginal vitamin A deficiency in children with different characteristics were compared. Results: A total of 3 785 cases with valid samples were obtained. The overall mean serum retinol concentration level was (1.49±0.71) μmol/L; the mean serum retinol concentration was (1.55±0.69) μmol/L for metropolis and (1.49±0.75) μmol/L for middle-sized and small cities (P>0.05). The mean serum retinol concentration was (1.52±0.78) μmol/L for boys and (1.47±0.68) μmol/L for girls (P>0.05). The mean serum retinol concentration level was (1.46±0.70) μmol/L for 6- to 11-year-old children and (1.54±0.65) μmol/L for 12- to 17-year-old children (P<0.05). The total vitamin A deficiency rate and marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 7.69% (291/3 785) and 18.57% (703/3 785), respectively. The vitamin A deficiency rate was 8.00% (36/450) for metropolis and 7.64% (65/3 335) for middle-sized and small cities; 8.12% (155/1 908) for boys and 7.25% (136/1 877) for girls; and 8.04% (171/2 115) for 6- to 11-year-old children and 7.18% (120/1 670) for 12- to 17-year-old children. No significant differences were observed for region, sex, or age (P>0.05). The marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 19.11% (86/450) for metropolis and 18.50% (617/3 335) for middle-sized and small cities; 18.19% (347/1 908) for boys and 18.97% (356/1 877) for girls, with no significant differences observed (P>0.05). The marginal vitamin A deficiency rate was 16.54% (350/2 115) for 6- to 11-year-old children and 21.13% (353/1 670) for 12- to 17-year-old children (P<0.05). Conclusion The vitamin A nutritional status of 6- to 17-year-old Chinese urban children and adolescents between 2010 and 2012 has improved, and the gap between cities is narrowing. However, vitamin A deficiency overall remains high, especially in younger children, and requires specific attention.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the iron utilization in children using single stable isotopes tracer.

METHODS57 children aged from 10 to 12 from a primary school of Beijing in 2010 were selected, 30 of them were boys and 27 were girls. All the subjects were given 5 ml artificial enriched ⁵⁷FeSO₄ twice per day within 5 days, and the total amount of ⁵⁷Fe was 30 mg. 5 ml blood were taken at 1 day before and 14 days after test, and all the feces during the test were collected. The samples were detected by AAS and MC-ICP-MS after pre-treatment to determine the content and abundances of iron in samples, then the iron utilization in whole blood were calculated.

RESULTSThe blood volume of male and female subjects 14 days after test were (3.19 ± 0.41) and (3.15 ± 0.29) ml respectively, and there was no significantly difference (t = 1.13, P > 0.05) between them; The amount of ⁵⁷Fe intake by male and female subjects were (27.46 ± 0.25) and (27.29 ± 0.15) mg (t = 1.13, P > 0.05); The amount of ⁵⁷Fe in blood were (5.92 ± 0.71) and (6.30 ± 0.65) mg respectively (t = 2.29, P < 0.05); The iron utilization in whole blood at 14 days of male and female subjects were (20.41 ± 2.03)% and (22.04 ± 0.80)% respectively, male subjects were significantly lower than females (t = 2.51, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSingle stable isotopes tracer can be used in iron utilization evaluation in children, and the iron utilization in whole blood of female children is higher than males.