ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility of various strength levels of deep learning image reconstruction （DLIR） algorithms for improving non-contrast abdominal CT image quality at ultra-low radiation doses， by comparing ultra-low-dose DLIR images with low-dose filtered back projection （FBP） images. MethodsA prospective collection of 85 patients undergoing non-contrast abdominal CT scans was performed， and a self-controlled study method was employed to conduct low-dose （LD） group and ultra-low-dose （ULD） group scans. The LD group used a noise index of 10 and employed FBP for image reconstruction （LD-FBP group）. The ULD group used a noise index of 30 and employed DLIR at different levels （low， medium， high）， resulting in three subgroups of reconstructed images： ULD-DLIR-L， ULD-DLIR-M， and ULD-DLIR-H. For each group， CT values， standard devia-tion （SD）， signal-to-noise ratio （SNR）， and contrast-to-noise ratio （CNR） were measured and calculated for the liver， spleen， kidneys， aorta， psoas major， and subcutaneous fat. Effective dose （ED） was also recorded. Two radiologists independently performed subjective evaluations of image quality using a 5-point scale. ResultsCompared with the LD-FBP group， the ULD-DLIR-L group showed significantly lower SNR and CNR values in the liver， spleen， kidneys， aorta， and psoas major （P<0.001）， while the ULD-DLIR-H group exhibited significantly higher values （P<0.001）. The difference of SNR and CNR values for the ULD-DLIR-M group showed no statistically significant difference. For subjective evaluation， the scores of the ULD-DLIR-L and ULD-DLIR-M groups were lower than those of the LD-FBP group， while there was no statistically significant difference in scores between the ULD-DLIR-H group and the LD-FBP group. The ED value of the ULD group was approximately 88% lower than that of the LD group. ConclusionCompared with the LD-FBP group， the ULD-DLIR-H group significantly reduces SD values while increasing SNR and CNR values， effectively improving the image quality of non-contrast abdominal CT scans.

Objective:This article studies the abilities and quality that medical technical managers should possess and provides a reference for promoting the professional training and development of medical technical managers.Methods:The data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and literature collection. The interview subjects were 20 scientific researchers with transformation projects and 10 management staffs with technical manager certificates in medical colleges. The documents are 6 articles related to ″technical manager capabilities″ collected on open academic platforms. Grounded theory was used to code and analyze above data.Results:After three-level coding and combining with the iceberg competency model, the knowledge, skills, self-awareness, traits and motivation of medical technology managers were sorted out, totalling 5 core categories, 10 main categories, and 50 initial categories, to construct a competency model for medical technology managers.Conclusions:Based on the complex knowledge structure and high occupational requirements of medical technology managers, policy insights such as systematic knowledge training, raising skill requirements in practice, and enriching assessment standards and communication channels are proposed.

Objective A Cobb angle prediction model for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS)based on three-point mechanical data from three-dimensional(3D)-printed orthotics and various machine learning algorithms was developed,so as to provide an innovative,radiation-free method for early clinical screening and monitoring of AIS.Methods Clinical data from AIS patients and mechanical data from 3D-printed orthotics were collected to construct a comprehensive dataset with features such as gender,age,disease type,weight,and Risser score.Six algorithms,namely,random forest,support vector regression,gradient boosting regressor,extreme gradient boosting,lightgbm,and catboost,were used to construct and evaluate the performance of Cobb angle prediction models.Results The gradient boosting regressor model had the best performance on several evaluation metrics,achieving a precision rate of 0.937,recall rate of 0.818,F1-score of 0.949,and an area under curve(AUC)value of 0.843.In the validation set,the model's predictions reached an accuracy rate of 0.942,fitting well with the actual Cobb values.Conclusions The Cobb angle prediction model based on mechanical data and machine learning effectively avoids the radiation risks associated with traditional full-spine X-ray examinations in early clinical screening.It provides a non-invasive assessment for AIS patients,enhancing the safety and efficiency of screening and monitoring,and offering a powerful decision-making tool for clinicians,with a great clinical significance.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of applying deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) in low-radiation dose liver dual-energy CT to further improve image quality, diagnostic confidence of lesion, and accuracy of iodine concentration (IC) measurement.Methods:This prospective cohort study enrolled 60 patients scheduled for enhanced liver CT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2023 to January 2024. The participants were randomly assigned into the standard dose group and low radiation dose group with 30 cases in each using randomized block method. The standard radiation dose group underwent standard-radiation dose 120 kVp scans during the venous phase, while the low radiation dose group underwent low radiation dose scans with a rapid kVp-switching spectral scanning mode at 80 kVp and 140 kVp. The effective radiation dose (ED) was calculated for both groups. The standard radiation dose group was reconstructed using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) algorithm 40% (AR40 120 kVp). The low radiation dose group using high-intensity DLIR (DLIR-H) to reconstructed 40 keV and 50 keV virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) (DH-VMI 40 keV, DH-VMI 50 keV). The image quality of the above three groups was objectively evaluated through the measurement of image noise and calculation of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the liver and portal vein; and the image quality was subjectively scored for image noise, contrast, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence. In the low radiation dose group, DLIR-H and ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps were used to measure the liver and portal vein of IC values, standard deviations (SD), and coefficients of variation (CV). One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the differences of subjective and objective image quality among the three groups, and paired t-test was used to compare the differences in measurement indexes between DLIR-H and ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps. Results:The ED in the low radiation dose group [(2.2±0.5) mSv] was reduced by 56.8% compared to the conventional radiation dose group [(5.4±1.4) mSv]. Objective evaluations demonstrated that DH-VMI 40 keV had higher image noise, CNR, and SNR for liver and portal veins compared to AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.001). DH-VMI 50 keV had lower image noise ( P=0.200), with higher CNR and SNR for the liver and portal vein compared to AR40 120 kVp( P<0.001). In subjective evaluation, there was no statistically significant difference in image noise scores between DH-VMI 40 keV and AR40 120 kVp ( P>0.05), while the image noise score for DH-VMI 50 keV was lower than that of AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.05). Both DH-VMI 40 keV and DH-VMI 50 keV had higher scores for contrast, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence compared to those of AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.05). In the low radiation dose group, there was no statistically significant difference in IC values for the liver and portal vein between the ASIR-V40% and DLIR-H algorithm reconstructed iodine maps ( P>0.05). The SD and CV of liver and portal vein in the DLIR-H reconstructed iodine maps were lower than those in the ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps ( P<0.001). Conclusions:DLIR can effectively reduce the image noise of low-energy (40, 50 keV) VMI, enhance lesion conspicuity and diagnostic confidence, and improve measurement accuracy without affecting IC values.

Objective:This article studies the abilities and quality that medical technical managers should possess and provides a reference for promoting the professional training and development of medical technical managers.Methods:The data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and literature collection. The interview subjects were 20 scientific researchers with transformation projects and 10 management staffs with technical manager certificates in medical colleges. The documents are 6 articles related to ″technical manager capabilities″ collected on open academic platforms. Grounded theory was used to code and analyze above data.Results:After three-level coding and combining with the iceberg competency model, the knowledge, skills, self-awareness, traits and motivation of medical technology managers were sorted out, totalling 5 core categories, 10 main categories, and 50 initial categories, to construct a competency model for medical technology managers.Conclusions:Based on the complex knowledge structure and high occupational requirements of medical technology managers, policy insights such as systematic knowledge training, raising skill requirements in practice, and enriching assessment standards and communication channels are proposed.

The deep learning reconstruction(DLR)algorithm is a new CT image reconstruction technology in recent years,which can be used as an alternative to filtered back projection and iterative reconstruction in clinical practice.Compared with traditional image reconstruction algorithms,the DLR algorithm can reduce image noise and radiation dose while preserving image texture,shortening reconstruction time,and improving diagnostic efficiency.Therefore,it has broad clinical application prospects in the field of image reconstruction.This article summarizes the basic principles of the DLR algorithm and its new progress in the clinical application of abdominal CT.

Transcription factor EB(TFEB),which belongs to the microphthalmia/transcription factor E(MiTF/TFE)family,is mainly functioned as regulator involved in regulating lysosomal function and autophagy.It plays an im-portant role in lipid metabolism via modulating lysosomal lipid degradation,mitochondrial β-oxidation of fatty acid,and in-tracellular cholesterol efflux.TFEB inhibits the development of metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)and o-besity by regulating the autophagy and the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes.Additionally,it prevents the for-mation of foam cell from macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells by restraining lipid accumulation,thereby attenua-ting the progression of atherosclerosis.TFEB promotes lipophagy to relieve lipid accumulation and lipid accumulation-in-duced insulin resistance,and β-cell failure,deferring diabetes-related lipid metabolic disorders.In summary,TFEB plays a key role in lipid metabolism and associated lipid disorder diseases,and serves as a potential clinical target to correct lipid dysmetabolism in vivo.

ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of compound Xishu granules （CXG） in inhibiting the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating ferroptosis. MethodsThe transplanted tumor model of human Huh7 was established with nude mice and the successfully modeled mice were randomized into model， Fufang Banmao （0.21 g·kg^-1）， low-dose （1.87 g·kg^-1） CXG， medium-dose （3.74 g·kg^-1） CXG， and high-dose （7.49 g·kg^-1） CXG groups. Mice were administrated with drinking water or CXG for 28 days， and the body weight and tumor volume were measured every 4 days. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the histopathological changes of tumors. The cell-counting kit-8 （CCK-8） was used to examine the survival rate of Huh7 cells treated with different concentrations （0， 31.25， 62.5， 125， 250， 500， 1 000 mg·L^-1） of CXG for 24 h and 48 h. CA-AM， DCFH-DA， and C11-BODIPY^581/591 fluorescent probes were used to determine the intracellular levels of ferrous ion （Fe²⁺）， reactive oxygen species （ROS）， and lipid peroxide （LPO）， respectively. The colorimetric method was employed to measure the levels of glutathione （GSH） and superoxide dismutase （SOD）. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， transferrin receptor 1 （TFR1）， and ferritin heavy chain 1 （FTH1）， respectively. ResultsIn the animal experiment， compared with the model group， the drug treatment groups showed reductions in the tumor volume from day 12 （P<0.01）. After treatment， the Fufang Banmao and low-， medium-， and high-dose CXG groups had lower tumor volume， relative tumor volume， and tumor weight than the model group （P<0.05）， with tumor inhibition rates of 48.99%， 79.93%， 91.38%， and 97.36%， respectively. Moreover， the CXG groups had lower tumor volume and relative tumor volume （P<0.05 in all the three dose groups） and lower tumor weight （P<0.05 in medium-dose and high-dose groups） than the Fufang Banmao group. Compared with the model group， the drug treatment groups showed reduced number of tumor cells， necrotic foci with karyopyknosis， nuclear fragmentation， and nucleolysis， and the high-dose CXG group showed an increase in the proportion of interstitial fibroblasts. In the cell experiment， compared with the blank group， CXG reduced the survival rate of Huh7 cells in a dose-dependent manner after incubation for 24 h and 48 h （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， the RSL3 group and the low-， medium-， and high-dose CXG groups showed a decrease in the relative fluorescence intensity of CA-AM and increases in the fluorescence intensity of DCFH-DA and fluorescence ratio of C11-BODIPY^581/591， which indicated elevations in the levels of Fe²⁺ （P<0.01）， ROS （P<0.05）， and LPO （P<0.01）， respectively. Compared with the blank group， the RSL3 and low-， medium-， and high-dose CXG groups showed lowered levels of GSH and SOD （P<0.05）. In addition， the RSL3 group and the medium- and high-dose CXG groups showed down-regulated expression of GPX4 and FTH1 （P<0.05）， and the low- and high-dose CXG groups presented up-regulated expression of TFR1 （P<0.05）. ConclusionCXG suppresses the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inducing ferroptosis via downregulating the GSH-GPX4 signaling axis and increasing intracellular Fe²⁺and LPO levels.

Objective To investigate the relationships of computed tomography (CT) angiography (CTA)-derived coronary plaque properties with platelet function and whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers in elderly patients with coronary heart disease. Methods The clinical data of 142 elderly patients with coronary heart disease who underwent coronary CTA examination in the hospital between April 2022 and April 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. The CT value of CTA, platelet function parameters (mean platelet volume, platelet-derived growth factor BB, von Willebrand factor), and whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers were recorded at admission. The correlations of the CT value of CTA-derived coronary plaque properties with platelet function parameters and whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers in elderly patients with coronary heart disease were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Based on the evaluation of CTA-derived coronary plaque properties, the patients were divided into a soft plaque group (CT value ≤ 60 HU), a calcified plaque group (CT value ≥ 130 HU), and a mixed plaque group (60 HU < CT value < 130 HU). The platelet function parameters (mean platelet volume, platelet-derived growth factor BB, von Willebrand factor) and whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers (systemic immune-inflammation index, systemic inflammation response index, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio) on admission were compared among the three groups. Results The coronary CTA examination showed 37 (26.06%) cases in the calcified plaque group, 47 (33.10%) cases in the soft plaque group, and 58 (40.84%) cases in the mixed plaque group. The CT values were (189.57 ± 22.14) HU for the calcified plaque group, (31.74 ± 4.12) HU for the soft plaque group, and (94.52 ± 8.29) HU for the mixed plaque group. The levels of platelet function parameters and whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers at admission were in the following order: soft plaque group > mixed plaque group > calcified plaque group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). After adjustment for sex, age, cardiac function grading, hypertension, diabetes, and blood lipids as covariates, partial correlation analysis revealed that the CT value of CTA-derived coronary plaque properties in elderly patients with coronary heart disease was negatively correlated with the levels of platelet function parameters and whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers (P < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, the coronary plaque CT value in elderly patients with coronary heart disease was negatively correlated with the levels of platelet function parameters and whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers. Furthermore, increasing plaque instability may be associated with more pronounced platelet activation and a heightened systemic inflammatory state.

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a form of neuropathic pain occurring after limb amputation, and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear, posing significant challenges for clinical management. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), a neuromodulation technique, has shown potential in relieving chronic pain, though its long-term efficacy and safety in treating PLP require further validation. This report presents a case of a 42-year-old male experiencing persistent radiating, lightning-like pain [Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score 8-9], following right upper limb amputation. Preoperative imaging revealed signal loss in the right nerve roots at C₆-T₁. A percutaneous electrode was implanted surgically to achieve full coverage of the painful region. Five days postoperatively, the VAS score dropped to 2-3, and after 1 year of follow-up, the patient continued to experience significant pain relief (VAS 1-2), with complete resolution of depressive symptoms and cessation of analgesic medication. Existing studies suggest that the long-term outcomes of SCS may fluctuate, and attention should be paid to potential complications such as infection and electrode displacement.
Humans ; Phantom Limb/therapy* ; Male ; Adult ; Spinal Cord Stimulation/methods* ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Amputation, Surgical/adverse effects*