ObjectiveDiscriminating atypical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other malignancies in liver nodules classified as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System category M (LR-M) remains a significant diagnostic challenge on conventional ultrasound examination. The LR-M category, originally intended to capture non-HCC malignancies, paradoxically contains up to 63% of atypical HCCs that deviate from classic enhancement patterns, leading to potential misdiagnosis and suboptimal treatment planning. While deep learning has shown promise in HCC diagnosis, most existing models rely exclusively on single-modality ultrasound, overlooking the diagnostic benefits of integrating complementary information from multiple imaging sources. To address this gap, we propose a novel attention-weighted tri-modal ultrasound network (TUS-Net) that integrates contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), B-mode ultrasound (BUS), and time-intensity curves (TICs) to improve diagnostic accuracy for these clinically challenging lesions. MethodsOur framework incorporates a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (C3D) backbone to extract spatiotemporal features from CEUS videos, capturing dynamic vascular patterns critical for lesion characterization. To effectively fuse complementary modalities, we introduce a dual-channel feature fusion module (DCFFM) that adaptively combines features from CEUS and BUS through channel-wise attention mechanisms, allowing the model to dynamically weigh the contribution of each modality based on diagnostic relevance. Additionally, we propose a temporal intensity feature fusion module (TIFFM) that leverages quantitative hemodynamic information from TICs to guide the model’s attention toward diagnostically critical temporal phases, such as arterial wash-in and portal venous washout. The model is further enhanced by automated lesion localization using YOLOX and class activation mapping for interpretability, ensuring that predictions align with clinically meaningful imaging features. ResultsEvaluated on a tri-modal ultrasound dataset comprising 161 patients with pathologically confirmed LR-M nodules (131 atypical HCC and 30 non-HCC malignancies), our model achieved an accuracy of 86.83%, a sensitivity of 92.50%, a specificity of 75.50%, and an AUC of 89.32% in screening atypical HCC. Compared to single-modality baselines, TUS-Net demonstrated superior specificity, a clinically critical metric given the higher risk associated with misclassifying non-HCC malignancies. Ablation studies confirmed the contribution of each module, with the full model outperforming both standard C3D and 3D ResNet backbones integrated with attention mechanisms. A reader study involving junior and senior radiologists further validated the clinical utility of AI assistance, showing consistent improvements in specificity and inter-reader consistency, particularly for less experienced clinicians. ConclusionThese results surpass existing benchmark models and demonstrate the potential of our approach to enhance diagnostic precision in clinically specific cases. By intelligently fusing multi-modal ultrasound data with attention-guided mechanisms, TUS-Net offers a reliable and interpretable tool that holds promise for improving the non-invasive diagnosis of atypical HCC in challenging LR-M liver nodules.

ObjectiveDiscriminating atypical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other malignancies in liver nodules classified as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System category M (LR-M) remains a significant diagnostic challenge on conventional ultrasound examination. The LR-M category, originally intended to capture non-HCC malignancies, paradoxically contains up to 63% of atypical HCCs that deviate from classic enhancement patterns, leading to potential misdiagnosis and suboptimal treatment planning. While deep learning has shown promise in HCC diagnosis, most existing models rely exclusively on single-modality ultrasound, overlooking the diagnostic benefits of integrating complementary information from multiple imaging sources. To address this gap, we propose a novel attention-weighted tri-modal ultrasound network (TUS-Net) that integrates contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), B-mode ultrasound (BUS), and time-intensity curves (TICs) to improve diagnostic accuracy for these clinically challenging lesions. MethodsOur framework incorporates a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (C3D) backbone to extract spatiotemporal features from CEUS videos, capturing dynamic vascular patterns critical for lesion characterization. To effectively fuse complementary modalities, we introduce a dual-channel feature fusion module (DCFFM) that adaptively combines features from CEUS and BUS through channel-wise attention mechanisms, allowing the model to dynamically weigh the contribution of each modality based on diagnostic relevance. Additionally, we propose a temporal intensity feature fusion module (TIFFM) that leverages quantitative hemodynamic information from TICs to guide the model’s attention toward diagnostically critical temporal phases, such as arterial wash-in and portal venous washout. The model is further enhanced by automated lesion localization using YOLOX and class activation mapping for interpretability, ensuring that predictions align with clinically meaningful imaging features. ResultsEvaluated on a tri-modal ultrasound dataset comprising 161 patients with pathologically confirmed LR-M nodules (131 atypical HCC and 30 non-HCC malignancies), our model achieved an accuracy of 86.83%, a sensitivity of 92.50%, a specificity of 75.50%, and an AUC of 89.32% in screening atypical HCC. Compared to single-modality baselines, TUS-Net demonstrated superior specificity, a clinically critical metric given the higher risk associated with misclassifying non-HCC malignancies. Ablation studies confirmed the contribution of each module, with the full model outperforming both standard C3D and 3D ResNet backbones integrated with attention mechanisms. A reader study involving junior and senior radiologists further validated the clinical utility of AI assistance, showing consistent improvements in specificity and inter-reader consistency, particularly for less experienced clinicians. ConclusionThese results surpass existing benchmark models and demonstrate the potential of our approach to enhance diagnostic precision in clinically specific cases. By intelligently fusing multi-modal ultrasound data with attention-guided mechanisms, TUS-Net offers a reliable and interpretable tool that holds promise for improving the non-invasive diagnosis of atypical HCC in challenging LR-M liver nodules.

Aim To establish the pyroptosis model of rat chondrocytes induced by tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)in order to study the effect of lysine acetyl-transferase 7(KAT7)on pyroptosis of chondrocytes.Methods Chondrocytes of rat knee joint were isolated by type Ⅱ collagenase digestion,and were identified by toluidine blue staining and Col Ⅱ immunofluorescence.CCK-8 was used to evaluate cell viability.Western blot was used to detect the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3,GSDMD,caspase-8 and KAT7 in cells intervened with TNF-α,adenovirus overexpression of KAT7(KAT7-oe)and KAT7 inhibitor WM-3835.The microstructure of the cells was observed by scanning e-lectron microscopy.Pyroptosis was detected by TUNEL staining,and the expression of pyroptosis-related pro-tein and KAT7 was detected by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with the empty virus group,KAT7-oe inhibited cell viability,promoted the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins,and TNF-α enhanced this effect.At the same time,the expression of KAT7 and pyroptosis-related proteins in the TNF-α stimulation group increased,and WM-3835 reduced the related proteins expression.Electron microscopy showed that KAT7-oe caused cell swelling,deformation,membrane perforation and rupture,while WM-3835 could restore cell morphology.TUNEL staining and immunofluores-cence results also confirmed that KAT7-oe induced chondrocyte pyroptosis,and WM-3835 could down-reg-ulate the fluorescence of pyroptosis-related proteins.Conclusions The expression of KAT7 increases in rat chondrocyte pyroptosis model,and the intervention of KAT7 expression affects signal molecules related to py-roptosis pathway,suggesting that KAT7 may be related to chondrocyte pyroptosis.

OBJECTIVE To explore the serum growth hormone(GH)of the children with infectious pneumonia and analyze its association with blood biochemistry and body immunity.METHODS A total of 211 children with infec-tious pneumonia who were treated in Huaihe Hospital,Henan University from Jan.2023 to Jan.2024 were recrui-ted as the research subjects and were divided into the mild group with 156 cases and the severe group with 55 cases according to the severity of disease.The change of serum GH and the levels of blood biochemical indexes and im-munity indexes were observed and compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for the influencing factors,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were drawn to analyze the predictive efficiencies.Linear regression analysis was performed to observe the relationship between the infectious pneumonia and the blood biochemistry and body immunity.RESULTS The GH level of the severe group was(18.34±4.33)μg/L,higher than(10.16±2.84)μg/L of the mild group(t=15.853,P＜0.001).There were sig-nificant differences in the blood biochemistry indexes,cellular and humoral immunity indexes between the severe group and the mild group(P＜0.05).The difference values of changes of C-reactive protein(CRP),CD4+and immunoglobulin(Ig)G were the most(t=16.023,87.639,111.957,all P＜0.001).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of CD23+was the highest,with the sensitivity 100.00％,the specificity 98.88％.The result of the linear regression analysis showed that the GH was only positively correlated with the cellular immunity index CD23+(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION The GH level of the children with infectious pneumonia is reduced;the chang of GH level is closely associated with the blood biochemical indexes CRP and the body im-munity of the children.

OBJECTIVE To explore the serum growth hormone(GH)of the children with infectious pneumonia and analyze its association with blood biochemistry and body immunity.METHODS A total of 211 children with infec-tious pneumonia who were treated in Huaihe Hospital,Henan University from Jan.2023 to Jan.2024 were recrui-ted as the research subjects and were divided into the mild group with 156 cases and the severe group with 55 cases according to the severity of disease.The change of serum GH and the levels of blood biochemical indexes and im-munity indexes were observed and compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for the influencing factors,receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were drawn to analyze the predictive efficiencies.Linear regression analysis was performed to observe the relationship between the infectious pneumonia and the blood biochemistry and body immunity.RESULTS The GH level of the severe group was(18.34±4.33)μg/L,higher than(10.16±2.84)μg/L of the mild group(t=15.853,P＜0.001).There were sig-nificant differences in the blood biochemistry indexes,cellular and humoral immunity indexes between the severe group and the mild group(P＜0.05).The difference values of changes of C-reactive protein(CRP),CD4+and immunoglobulin(Ig)G were the most(t=16.023,87.639,111.957,all P＜0.001).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of CD23+was the highest,with the sensitivity 100.00％,the specificity 98.88％.The result of the linear regression analysis showed that the GH was only positively correlated with the cellular immunity index CD23+(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION The GH level of the children with infectious pneumonia is reduced;the chang of GH level is closely associated with the blood biochemical indexes CRP and the body im-munity of the children.

Objective To observe the effect of Shaoyao Gancao decoction combined with electroacupuncture on poststroke spasticity in rats.Methods Healthy male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,electroacupuncture group,baclofen group,electroacupuncture combined with high dose of Chinese medicine group,electroacupuncture combined with middle dose of Chinese medicine group,electroacupuncture combined with low dose of Chinese medicine group,high dose of Chinese medicine group,middle dose of Chinese medicine group and low dose of Chinese medicine group,with 10 rats in each group.Open field test and integrated electromyography of quadriceps femoris were tested before modeling and on the 1st,3rd and 6th day after modeling.The samples were taken on day 6.The expression of inflammatory factors in M1 cortex were detected by liquid phase factor technique.The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),synaptophysin(SYP),postsynaptic density 95(PSD95),Nestin and β-catenin in M1 cortex was detected by ELISA and Western blot.Results Compared with model group and other intervention groups,the electroacupuncture combined with middle dose of Chinese medicine group make best total distance(P=0.021)and average speed(P=0.021)in open field test on 6th day.make better in integrated electromyography of quadriceps femoris test(P=0.006)on day 3,have higher Ⅱ type fiber ratio,promote IL-10(P=0.006),GMcsf(P=0.045)secretion.ELISA and Western blot also showed that this group behave better in the test of BDNF,SYP,PSD95,Nestin and β-catenin.Conclusion Electroacupuncture combined with Shaoyao-Gancao decoction groups were effective in the treatment of poststroke spasticity in rats,and its mechanism may be to improve the inflammatory environment of the injured site,promote the proliferation of neural stem cells and synaptic regeneration.

Objective:To prospectively analyze and evaluate the clinical efficacy of fire needle acupuncture selection based on CT localization in the treatment of lung cancer-related cough.Methods:A total of 36 patients with lung cancer-related cough who were admitted to the Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2023 were prospectively included as research samples.According to the random number table method,they were divided into control group(18 cases)and observation group(18 cases).The control group was treated with routine etiological treatment and symptomatic treatment,while the observation group was treated with fire needle acupuncture selection based on CT localization on the basis of the control group.The course of treatment was 28 days.The efficacy improvement rate after 28 days of treatment,visual analogue scale(VAS),le icester cough questionnaire in mandarin-Chinese(LCQ-MC)and levels of peripheral serum cytokines interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-8(IL-8)before and after 28 days of treatment were compared between the two groups.Results:After 28 days of treatment,the efficacy improvement rate of curative effect,VAS score and LCQ-MC score in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion:The treatment of fire needle acupuncture selection guided by CT localization can significantly improve the therapeutic effect of patients with lung cancer-related cough,effectively reduce the cough symptoms of patients,improve the quality of life of patients,and alleviate the inflammatory response in the body.

Objective To investigate the effects of emergency endovascular treatment on the short-term and long-term prognosis of patients with minor stroke(National Institutes of Health stroke scale[NIHSS]score≤5)caused by posterior circulation large vessel occlusion(LVO).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on consecutive patients with minor stroke caused by posterior circulation LVO admitted to the Department of Neurology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from July 2019 to March 2024.The patients were divided into the emergency endovascular treatment group and the standard medical treatment group according to the treatment method.Baseline and clinical data were collected from all patients enrolled,including age,sex,smoking history,history of alcohol consumption,medical history(hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,atrial fibrillation,transient ischemic attack[TIA],blood pressure on admission,stroke history,coronary heart disease),intravenous thrombolysis,tandem lesions,posterior circulation Alberta stroke program early CT score(pc-ASPECTS)on admission,NIHSS score on admission and discharge,time from onset to admission,responsible occluded vessel(basilar artery,left vertebral artery,right vertebral artery),vertebral artery development(left vertebral artery dominant,right vertebral artery dominant,bilateral vertebral artery dominant),non-lesion side vertebral artery development(poor,good,not applicable),basilar artery on CT angiography(BATMAN)score,leptomeningeal branch compensation(open,not open),surgery-related indicators(number of thrombectomy passes[≤2 times,＞2 times],rescue interventions[stent placement,balloon dilation,arterial thrombolysis,intra-arterial tirofiban infusion],immediate postoperative modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction[mTICI]grade≥2b[successful recanalization],anesthesia method[general,local],endotracheal intubation status[yes,no],duration of mechanical ventilation[not using a ventilator or successfully intubation for≤24 hours and＞24 hours]),in-hospital systematic complications(deep-vein thrombosis,urinary tract infection,lung infection).The primary outcome for short-term prognosis was an excellent outcome(modified Rankin scale[mRS]score of 0-1)within 90 days after onset.Secondary outcomes included a good outcome(mRS score of 0-2)within 90days after onset,recurrent ischemic stroke within 90 days after onset,all-cause mortality within 90 days after onset.Safety outcomes were symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage(sICH)within 24 hours of treatment(NIHSS score increased by≥4 points or increased level of consciousness score by≥1 point compared with admission,with visible hemorrhagic lesions on follow-up CT scan)and early neurological deterioration(END,NIHSS score increased by≥2 points or motor score increased by≥1 point compared with admission,within 24 hours after treatment).Long-term outcome was defined as recurrent ischemic stroke within 1 year after onset.Short-term and safety outcomes were compared between the emergency endovascular treatment group and the standard medical treatment group.Kaplan-Meier survival curves was used to evaluate the effect of emergency endovascular treatment on the long-term prognosis.Based on the mRS score at 90 days from onset,all patients were divided into an excellent outcome(mRS score 0-1)group and a non-excellent outcome(mRS score 2-6)group.Baseline and clinical data were compared across the two groups.Variables with statistically significant differences were included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis to investigate the influencing factor of 90-day excellent outcomes in patients with minor stroke caused by posterior circulation LVO.Results A total of 56 patients with minor stroke caused by posterior circulation LVO were enrolled,including 18 patients in the emergency endovascular treatment group and 38 patients in the standard medical treatment group.45 patients achieved excellent outcomes and 11 patients achieved non-excellent outcomes.(1)The emergency endovascular treatment group had lower pc-ASPECTS on admission(8.0[7.0,9.0]points vs.9.0[8.0,10.0]points,P=0.043)and There were no statistically significant differences in the excellent outcome rate,good outcome rate,and ischemic stroke recurrence rate within 90 days after onset between the two groups(all P＞0.05).No all-cause mortality occurred within 90 days after onset in either group.In the emergency endovascular treatment group,one patient developed sICH and one developed END within 24 hours after treatment.(3)No recurrent ischemic stroke in the emergency endovascular treatment group within 1 year after onset,while 3cases(7.89%)of recurrence were observed within 1year after onset in the standard medical treatment group.The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ischemic stroke within one year after onset between the two groups(P=0.341).(4)There were statistically significant differences between patients with excellent outcome and patients with non excellent outcome in drinking history,diabetes history,NIHSS score after discharge,distribution of responsible occlusive vessels,and distribution of vertebral artery development(all P＜0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the NIHSS score at discharge was an independent influencing factor for excellent outcome at 90 days after onset in patients with minor stroke caused by posterior circulation LVO(OR,0.448,95%CI 0.275-0.728,P=0.001).Conclusions This study shows potential safety and effectiveness of emergency endovascular treatment on patients with minor stroke caused by posterior circulation LVO,but it is not superior to standard medical treatment in terms of short-term and long-term outcomes.Further large-sample randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate the findings of this study.

Ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke have different pathogenic mechanisms,but share similarities in metabolic dysregulation,inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.This paper summarized 28 metabolic markers shared between ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke with consistent trends through literature review.It also provided an overview of their involvement in abnormal energy metabolism,inflammatory responses,blood-brain barrier disruption,and neural damage in relation to stroke.The aim is to provide a scientific basis for future prognosis,curative efficacy evaluation and future homotherapy of ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke,and provide insights for the development of new therapies and new drugs.

Recently,British Society of Gastroenterology has published the guidelines on the management of autoimmune hepatitis(AIH).The guidelines provide guidance for the diagnosis and management of patients with AIH and overlap syndrome by reviewing and summarizing existing clinical evidence.The guidelines mainly focus on AIH in adults,but it is also applicable to adolescents and older children.This article presents an excerpt of the recommendations from the guidelines.