Objective To investigate the value of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in the prognostic assessment of nasopharyngeal cancer patients. Methods The clinical data and PET/CT metabolic parameters of 185 nasopharyngeal cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. The collected parameters were SUV_max, MTV, TLG, total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and whole-body total lesion glycolysis (WTLG). The ROC curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of PET/CT metabolic parameters. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to screen the independent prognostic factors. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to analyze the survival differences. Results The results of univariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, pathologic type, WTLG, TMTV, MTV, and TLG were closely associated with OS and PFS; and SUV_max was associated with PFS (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis results showed that age, TMTV, and WTLG were the independent prognostic factors for OS and PFS (P<0.05). The combination of WTLG with T/N staging (AUC=0.781 and 0.781) and TMTV with T/N staging (AUC=0.800 and 0.790) yielded greater predictive accuracy than that of WTLG and TMTV alone (AUC=0.724 and 0.719) or T/N staging (AUC=0.593 and 0.575). Conclusion TMTV and WTLG are important prognostic predictors of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. TLG and MTV of primary lesions are prognostic factors for patients’ PFS and OS. SUV_max has limited prognostic value. Systemic metabolic indexes (TMTV and WTLG), when combined with T/N staging, can optimize prognostic stratification.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of social skills and problem behaviors of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as the association with core symptoms.Methods:A total of 409 patients aged 5-18 years old with ASD or ADHD in the outpatient department of Nanjing Brain Hospital from 2023 to 2024, and 344 children and adolescents with typical development(TD) were recruited.All participants were matched in a ratio of 1∶1∶1 (ASD∶ADHD∶TD) according to gender and age, and 97 participants were included in each group for analysis.The Chinese version of the social skills improvement system rating scales(SSIS-RS-C) was used to evaluate social skills and problem behaviors, and autistic child behavior checklist(ABC), childhood autism rating scale(CARS), the Chinese version of the social communication questionnaire(SCQ) and the Chinese version of Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, version Ⅳ scale-parent form(SNAP-Ⅳ) were used to evaluate the core symptoms of ASD and ADHD, respectively. SPSS 26.0 software was used to perform variance, Chi-square test, Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results:The social skills score of ASD group was lower than ADHD group ((61.53±24.26) vs (80.89±15.19), P<0.05), while the problem behavior score of ASD group was higher than ADHD group ((38.82±11.92) vs (34.00±12.45), P<0.05). In ASD group, the scores of ABC, CARS and SCQ were negatively correlated with the score of social skills ( r=-0.26--0.55, P<0.05). In ADHD group, the total score and each subscale of SNAP-Ⅳ were positively correlated with the score of problem behavior ( r=0.25-0.65, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that empathy was a negative influencing factor of ASD ( B=-0.246, OR=0.782, P<0.05), and hyperactivity/inattention was a positive influencing factor of ASD ( B=0.589, OR=1.802, P<0.01), while only hyperactivity/inattention was a positive influencing factor of ADHD( B=0.779, OR=2.180, P<0.01). Conclusion:Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD both have defects in social skills and problem behaviors, and these defects are associated with the core characteristics of their respective diseases.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of social skills and problem behaviors of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as the association with core symptoms.Methods:A total of 409 patients aged 5-18 years old with ASD or ADHD in the outpatient department of Nanjing Brain Hospital from 2023 to 2024, and 344 children and adolescents with typical development(TD) were recruited.All participants were matched in a ratio of 1∶1∶1 (ASD∶ADHD∶TD) according to gender and age, and 97 participants were included in each group for analysis.The Chinese version of the social skills improvement system rating scales(SSIS-RS-C) was used to evaluate social skills and problem behaviors, and autistic child behavior checklist(ABC), childhood autism rating scale(CARS), the Chinese version of the social communication questionnaire(SCQ) and the Chinese version of Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, version Ⅳ scale-parent form(SNAP-Ⅳ) were used to evaluate the core symptoms of ASD and ADHD, respectively. SPSS 26.0 software was used to perform variance, Chi-square test, Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results:The social skills score of ASD group was lower than ADHD group ((61.53±24.26) vs (80.89±15.19), P<0.05), while the problem behavior score of ASD group was higher than ADHD group ((38.82±11.92) vs (34.00±12.45), P<0.05). In ASD group, the scores of ABC, CARS and SCQ were negatively correlated with the score of social skills ( r=-0.26--0.55, P<0.05). In ADHD group, the total score and each subscale of SNAP-Ⅳ were positively correlated with the score of problem behavior ( r=0.25-0.65, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that empathy was a negative influencing factor of ASD ( B=-0.246, OR=0.782, P<0.05), and hyperactivity/inattention was a positive influencing factor of ASD ( B=0.589, OR=1.802, P<0.01), while only hyperactivity/inattention was a positive influencing factor of ADHD( B=0.779, OR=2.180, P<0.01). Conclusion:Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD both have defects in social skills and problem behaviors, and these defects are associated with the core characteristics of their respective diseases.

Objective:To investigate the radiation protection effect of furosemide intervention on 18F-2-deoxy-D-glucose ( 18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. Methods:A total of 146 patients were randomly divided into two groups, with test group of 74 patients and control group of 72. The test group was administrated orally with furosemide of 40 mg for each one before injection, while the normal control group did not undergo special treatment. 60 and 120 min after 18F-FDG injection, the horizontal measurement of ambient dose equivalent rates was carried out at 0.5 m from the front of both chest and abdomen respectively. Results:For the test group, the ambient dose equivalent rates were measured to be (30.80±8.61) and (41.38±11.06) μSv/h 60 min after injection of 18F-FDG whereas (18.26±4.85) and (24.66±6.50) μSv/h 120 min after injection, respectively, both lower than in the control group and with statistically significant difference between the both ( t =15.36, 13.13, 18.73, 17.29, P<0.05) . No significant difference was found between mediastinal SUV max and liver SUV max in the experimental group and control group ( P>0.05) . Multivariate ANOVA showed that body surface area was a major factor influencing ambient dose equivalent rate regardless of furosemide injection ( t=-13.52, 2.96, P<0.05) , and no obvious effects of age and sex on ambient dose equivalence rate were found. Conclusions:Furosemide intervention can promote urination, effectively reduce the internal radiation exposure of the examinated patietns in the premise of not affecting the image quality, and therefore provide a better radiation protection effect.

Objective:To explore the effect of play-based communication and behavior intervention (PCBI) on internalizing and externalizing behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods:From November 2018 to November 2021, 90 ASD children aged 8-30 months who registered in the Child Mental Health Research Center of the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University for PCBI ultra-early intervention training were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention group( n=60) and the waiting group( n=30) according to the ratio of 2∶1.Behavioral videos of free play between children and caregivers were collected before and after the 12-week intervention and the behavioral observation and analysis system (Observer XT) was used to code the parent-child interaction status and children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors.SPSS 23.0 statistical software were used and the data were analyzed by t-test, chi-square test, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis. Results:After the intervention, the children in the intervention group had improved internalizing and externalizing behaviors (2.43±2.22, 1.88±1.91) compared with those before the intervention (4.82±3.37, 3.68±5.68), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.66, 2.60, both P<0.05). The children in the waiting group had no significant difference in internalizing and externalizing behaviors before (4.23±2.47, 4.00±2.18) and after intervention (4.37±2.57, 4.67±3.72) ( t=-0.23, -0.83, both P>0.05). After intervention, the children in the intervention group had fewer internalizing and externalizing behaviors than those in the waiting group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-3.70, -4.71, both P<0.05). The differences in internalizing behaviors (2.38±3.96, 1.80±5.37) and externalizing behaviors (1.80±5.37, -0.67±4.38) between the two groups before and after the intervention were statistically significant ( t=3.03, 2.18, both P<0.05). The results of multiple linear stepwise regression showed that the negative interaction of caregivers ( β=0.29, P<0.01) was a risk factor for internalizing behaviors.The negative interaction of children ( β=0.45, P<0.01) was a risk factor for externalizing behaviors, and the child's object status ( β=-0.30, P<0.01) and binary interaction ( β=-0.39, P<0.01) were protective factors for externalizing behaviors.In the intervention group, active child interaction, active caregiver interaction, and binary interaction increased after the intervention ( t=-6.77, -4.58, -7.72, all P<0.05), while the child's object status and the caregiver's negative interaction decreased ( t=3.37, 4.30, both P<0.05). Conclusion:The PCBI ultra-early intervention can effectively improve the internalizing and externalizing behaviors of ASD children.Improvements in internalizing behaviors may work by reducing negative caregiver interactions, and improvements in externalizing behaviors may work by increasing parent-child binary interactions.

Objective To compare and analyze the short-term effect of play-based communication and behavior intervention (PCBI) and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) on the treatment of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods Seventy-four ASD toddlers aged from 19 to 30 months were recruited in Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from November 2017 to May 2018.The toddlers who participated in this study were randomly assigned into PCBI group and ABA group,then they were intervened weekly by PCBI or ABA for a total of 12 weeks.Portage Early Development Checklist and autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC) were used to estimate the toddlers' developmental level and the treatment efficacy respectively.The t-test was used to reveal whether there was significant difference between the 2 groups before and after intervention.Results (1) Compared with the ABA group,there was a significant increase in cognitive scores (△PCBI =9.03 scores,△ABA =4.27 scores,t =3.997) and a significant decrease in social behavior scores (△PCBI =8.87 scores,△ABA =16.91 scores,t =-4.022) of the Portage Early Development Checklist after 12 weeks of intervention in the PCBI group,and there were statistically significant differences(all P ＜ 0.001);while the total score and the scores of language,movement,and self-care subscale of Portage Early Development Checklist were also increased after PCBI intervention but without significant differences (all P ＞ 0.05).(2)Compared with the ABA group,after 12 weeks of PC BI intervention,the scores of social contact,perception,behavior of ATEC were decreased,but the difference was not significant (P ＞ 0.05);the total score of ATEC scale(△PCBI total =14.89 scores,△ABA total =22.22 scores,t =2.209)and the scores of language subscale(△PCBI language =2.89 scores,△ ABA language =6.43 scores,t =2.515) were decreased significantly,and there were statistically significant differences (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions After 12 weeks of the very early intervention of PCBI,the ASD toddlers all improved in clinical symptoms and developmental level.Compared with ABA intervention,PCBI very early intervention with parental guidance was comparable in short term efficacy,and PCBI was not taking up as much medical rehabilitation resources as ABA.

Objective: Children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD) who participated in the " Play-based Communication and Behavior Intervention(PCBI)" were studied in order to evaluate the impact of caregiver factors on the efficacy of the PCBI very early intervention model systematically. Methods: Seventy-six children with ASD aged 8-30 months were recruited in this study at Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University form December 2017 to June 2018, and they were trained for PCBI very early intervention.The Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) and the Gesell Developmental Schedules were used to evaluate the efficacy of the PCBI very early intervention.Parenting Stress Index Short Form, General Self-Efficacy Scale and the self-developed Caregiver Training Course Evaluation Scale and the Homework Completion Level Scale were used to assess the level of parental stress, self-efficacy, curriculum satisfaction and acceptance.A pair of sample t-test was used to analyze the ASD symptoms, developmental level and caregiver factors of ASD children before and after intervention.Multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the caregiver factors and the effects of PCBI very early intervention. Results: (1) At the end of 12 weeks of PCBI very early intervention, the score of the ATEC (17.36±15.98) was lower than that before intervention (78.43±22.84), and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05); the adaptive developmental quotient(5.90±15.45), the fine action developmental quotient(5.13±19.89), the language developmental quotient (12.43±20.60) and the personal social developmental quotient(4.79±16.02) scores of the Gesell Developmental Schedules were higher than those before intervention (73.08±20.54, 77.33±23.63, 52.24±19.12, 71.79±20.81), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (2) At the end of PCBI very early intervention, there was a significant decrease in the scores of Parenting Stress Index Short Form, and the differences were statistically significant (4.84±14.69 vs.94.05±29.67, P<0.05). (3) Acceptance of the intervention model, and mastery of the skills in the caregiver factors had a positive predictive effect on the effect of PCBI very early intervention (t=3.068, 10.468, all P<0.05). Conclusions PCBI very early intervention can effectively reduce the parenting pressure of the caregivers, and in the PCBI very early intervention, the better the mastery of skills and the completion of homework, the better the efficacy of intervention.

Objective To explore the characteristics of social behaviors in toddlers with high-risk of autism spectrum disorder (HR-ASD),and the correlation to the severity of ASD symptoms.Method 32 high-risk ASD toddlers,aged from 12 months to 24 months,and 34 typical developmental (TD) infants/toddlers,aged from 6 months to 24 months,were recruited.Behavioral video of the Still-Face Paradigm (SFP) was used to measure the frequencies and duration of social behaviors,including non-social smiling,protest,eye contact,social smiling and social positive engagement,during the mother-infant interaction and the still face.Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale was used to evaluate severity of clinical symptoms in high-risk ASD toddler.Gesell Development Scale was used to assess the developmental level of the two groups.Independent-sample t test was used to compare the differences of social behaviors between two groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the social behaviors of high-risk ASD and the age,the developmental level and the severity of ASD symptoms.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the power of discrimination of social behaviors between HR-ASD and TD.Results During mother-infant interaction,compared with TD group,HR-ASD had significantly shorter duration ((19.8±23.4) s vs.(61.5±34.0) s,t=-5.75,P＜0.01;(6.5±9.3) s vs.(29.0±25.2) s,t=-4.73,P＜0.01;(3.0±8.8) s vs.(13.2±23.1) s,t=-2.34,P=0.02) and lower frequencies (t=-6.62、-3.03、-2.74,all P＜0.01) of eye contact,social smiling and social positive engagement.During the still face,compared with TD group,HR-ASD had significantly shorter duration (t=-3.32,P＜0.01;t=-2.59,P=0.01) and lower frequencies (t=-6.13、-3.48,all P＜0.01) of eye contact and social positive engagement.According to Pearson correlation analysis,during the still face,in HR-ASD group,the duration of eye contact and social positive engagement had significantly negative influence on the score of the language and communication in ADOS (r=-0.49、-0.52,all P＜0.01);The duration and frequencies of eye contact and social positive engagement had significantly negative influence on the score of mutually social interaction in ADOS (r=-0.57,P＜0.01;r=-0.49,P＜0.01;r=-0.74,P＜0.01;r=-0.44,P=0.01);The duration of eye contact and social positive engagement had significantly negative influence on the score of the playing in ADOS (r=-0.43,P=0.01;r=-0.45,P=0.01).According to binary logistic regression,the duration of social smiling during the still face and the frequencies of eye contact during mother-infant interaction could distinguish between HR-ASD and TD (OR=1.36,95％CI:1.08-1.71,P=0.01;OR=5.99,95％CI:1.15-31.14,P=0.03).Conclusion HR-ASD hasthe lower levels of eye contact,social smiling and social positive engagement,which may suggestthe severity of ASD core symptoms.The duration of social smiling during the still face and the frequencies of eye contact during mother-infant interaction may possiblyfigure out theHR-ASD and could be further developed as a predictablebehavioral maker.

Objective To explore the characteristics of social behaviors in toddlers with high-risk of autism spectrum disorder (HR-ASD),and the correlation to the severity of ASD symptoms.Method 32 high-risk ASD toddlers,aged from 12 months to 24 months,and 34 typical developmental (TD) infants/toddlers,aged from 6 months to 24 months,were recruited.Behavioral video of the Still-Face Paradigm (SFP) was used to measure the frequencies and duration of social behaviors,including non-social smiling,protest,eye contact,social smiling and social positive engagement,during the mother-infant interaction and the still face.Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale was used to evaluate severity of clinical symptoms in high-risk ASD toddler.Gesell Development Scale was used to assess the developmental level of the two groups.Independent-sample t test was used to compare the differences of social behaviors between two groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the social behaviors of high-risk ASD and the age,the developmental level and the severity of ASD symptoms.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the power of discrimination of social behaviors between HR-ASD and TD.Results During mother-infant interaction,compared with TD group,HR-ASD had significantly shorter duration ((19.8±23.4) s vs.(61.5±34.0) s,t=-5.75,P＜0.01;(6.5±9.3) s vs.(29.0±25.2) s,t=-4.73,P＜0.01;(3.0±8.8) s vs.(13.2±23.1) s,t=-2.34,P=0.02) and lower frequencies (t=-6.62、-3.03、-2.74,all P＜0.01) of eye contact,social smiling and social positive engagement.During the still face,compared with TD group,HR-ASD had significantly shorter duration (t=-3.32,P＜0.01;t=-2.59,P=0.01) and lower frequencies (t=-6.13、-3.48,all P＜0.01) of eye contact and social positive engagement.According to Pearson correlation analysis,during the still face,in HR-ASD group,the duration of eye contact and social positive engagement had significantly negative influence on the score of the language and communication in ADOS (r=-0.49、-0.52,all P＜0.01);The duration and frequencies of eye contact and social positive engagement had significantly negative influence on the score of mutually social interaction in ADOS (r=-0.57,P＜0.01;r=-0.49,P＜0.01;r=-0.74,P＜0.01;r=-0.44,P=0.01);The duration of eye contact and social positive engagement had significantly negative influence on the score of the playing in ADOS (r=-0.43,P=0.01;r=-0.45,P=0.01).According to binary logistic regression,the duration of social smiling during the still face and the frequencies of eye contact during mother-infant interaction could distinguish between HR-ASD and TD (OR=1.36,95％CI:1.08-1.71,P=0.01;OR=5.99,95％CI:1.15-31.14,P=0.03).Conclusion HR-ASD hasthe lower levels of eye contact,social smiling and social positive engagement,which may suggestthe severity of ASD core symptoms.The duration of social smiling during the still face and the frequencies of eye contact during mother-infant interaction may possiblyfigure out theHR-ASD and could be further developed as a predictablebehavioral maker.

Objective: To conduct a follow-up investigation of structural changes of the corpus callosum fibers of toddlers (2 to 5 years of age) with autism spectrum disorder(ASD) and to explore the associations with clinical symptoms. Method: In this prospective randomized controlled study, ASD children who were diagnosed in the Child Mental Health Research Center, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from May 2011 to November 2012 were included in the ASD group, and developmentally delayed children were included in the control group (DD group). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from the two groups were obtained at two age levels: 2-3 years of age, and 4-5 years of age. Region of interest analysis was applied to assess characteristic values of total area and sub-regions of corpus callosum: the fraction anisotropy (FA), the mean diffusivity (MD), the radial diffusivity (RD) and the axial diffusivity (AD). All children were assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC). The characteristic values of total area and sub-regions of corpus callosum of ASD group at two age levels were analyzed by paired sample t test; the characteristic values of total area and sub-regions of corpus callosum of ASD group and DD group were analyzed by independent-sample t test; the correlations between FA values of the total area and sub-regions of corpus callosum and ADI-R or ATEC scores were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Result: Forty cases meeting inclusion criteria were enrolled in ASD group, and 31 eligible cases were enrolled in the control group. Four children in the ASD group were lost to follow-up, and 5 children in the control group were lost to follow-up. Longitudinal comparison between the two age subgroups of ASD patients showed that the FA values of the total corpus callosum increased (0.499 55±0.027 59 vs. 0.505 83±0.086 64, t=4.88, P<0.05), but MD values, RD values and AD values of the total corpus callosum area decreased (0.000 89±0.000 03 vs. 0.000 81±0.000 14, 0.000 61±0.000 04 vs. 0.000 55±0.000 09, 0.001 43±0.000 03 vs. 0.001 38±0.000 03, t=9.31, 7.90, 8.66, P<0.05 for all comparisons). In the area of corpus callosum genu, FA and AD values increased (t=5.59, 8.48, P<0.05 for both comparisons), but MD and RD values decreased (t=12.67, 11.28, P<0.05 for both comparisns). In the area of corpus callosum body, FA and RD values increased(t=5.46, 8.48, P<0.05 for both comparisons), but MD and AD values decreased (t=8.08, 6.22, P<0.05 for both comparisons). In the area of corpus callosum splenium, MD, RD and AD values decreased (t=6.81, 4.44, 5.51, P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Among the participants 2 to 3 years of age, there were no significantly differences in FA values of total area and sub-regions of corpus callosum between ASD group and the DD group (P > 0.05 for all comparisons); as compared with the DD group, ASD group had higher AD values of total area and splenium of corpus callosum (0.001 43±0.000 03 vs. 0.001 40±0.000 04, 0.001 34±0.000 03 vs. 0.001 32±0.000 04, t=1.56, 1.14, P < 0.05 for both comparisons); ASD group had lower AD values but higher RD and MD values of corpus callosum genu (t=0.07, 0.55, 0.07, P < 0.05 for all comparisons); ASD group had lower RD values of corpus callosum body (t=0.07, P < 0.05). Among the participants 4 to 5 years of age, as compared with the DD group, ASD group had higher FA value of total corpus callosum area(0.505 83±0.086 64 vs. 0.483 77±0.099 30, t=8.56, P < 0.05), lower RD value of total corpus callosum(0.000 55±0.000 09 vs. 0.000 56±0.000 12, t=14.44, P < 0.05), lower RD values of corpus callosum body (t=2.20, P < 0.05), higher FA values (t=3.35, P < 0.05) but lower AD values of corpus callosum splenium (t=2.20, P < 0.05). A correlation analysis between FA values of total area and sub-regions of corpus callosum and clinical variables showed that the FA values of total area and splenium of corpus callosum in ASD group at 2 to 3 years of age were negatively correlated with the scores of language skills in ATEC (r=-0.35,-0.36, P < 0.05 for both comparisons). And after two years, FA values of total corpus callosum were positively correlated with the scores of social communication in ATEC (r=0.34, P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between FA values of sub-regions of corpus callosum and the scores of ATEC (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). There was no significant correlation between FA values of total area and sub-regions of corpus callosum and the scores of ADI-R (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusion The fiber structure of corpus callosum was still in the process of maturing during the age of 2 to 5 years; however, compared with DD group, ASD group had more extensive structural abnormalities of the corpus callosum fibers as age increased, and the structural abnormalities had correlation with the core symptoms of ASD. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-OPC-17011995.