Objective:To study the consistency between post-processing bone mineral density(BMD)values of multi-slice spiral computed tomography(MSCT)scan and the BMD value of quantitative computed tomography(QCT)for lumbar vertebra,so as to explore the feasibility of utilizing MSCT scan-based post-processing BMD values for lumbar vertebra in clinical practice.Methods:The MSCT equipment and QCT equipment were respectively adopted to conduct imaging scan for the L2-L4 of lumber vertebra of QRM-ESP145 European Spine Phantom(ESP),and L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of adult sheep,and L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of adult volunteer.The L2-L4 of ESP lumber vertebra and L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of adult sheep were scanned respectively MSCT and QCT for three times,so as to measure BMD values.The L2-L4 of lumbar vertebrae of volunteers were scanned respectively by the two methods for one time according to the standard of clinical examination,which were reconstructed by three times so as to obtain mean of them.The BMD values of QCT scan were set as control group,and the BMD values of MSCT scan were set as experiment group.The experiment group was further divided into experiment 1 group[two dimension(2D)regional volumetric BMD values of the lumbar vertebra]and experiment 2 group[three dimension(3D)global volumetric BMD post-processing of the lumbar vertebra]according to the reliability of experiment.Then,the consistency between the MSCT 3D post-processing BMD values of three groups and QCT-measured BMD values was compared and analyzed.Results:The MSCT 3D post-processing BMD values of L2-L4 of ESP lumbar vertebra of three groups were respectively(120.83±0.97),(199.57±0.54)and(119.19±1.04)mg/cm3,and that of L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of adult sheep of three groups were respectively(414.89±1.72),(410.50±0.77)and(420.25±2.71)mg/cm3,and that of L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of volunteer were respectively(141.22±0.09),(137.38±0.37)and(152.03±1.03)mg/cm3.There were not statistically significant differences in BMD values between MSCT examination and QCT examination(P＞0.05).Conclusion:MSCT 3D post-processing BMD values on lumbar vertebra has high consistency with that of QCT measurements,which post-processing technique can replace QCT to conduct BMD examination,and reduce unnecessary radiation exposure and examination costs for patients.

Objective To explore the application value of the deep learning image reconstruction algorithm(ClearInfinity,CI)combined with high tube voltage and low tube current low-dose computed tomography(LDCT)in lung screening.Methods A total of 216 patients underwent lung screening CT plain scan were selected.Patients were randomly divided into conventional-dose group(A group)and low-dose group(B group).Image reconstructed by using the iterative algorithm(ClearView+,CV)in group A,CV-60％,CI-30％,CI-60％,and CI-90％algorithms in group B.CT value,noise,image quality,and edge detail were conducted with both objective and subjective evaluations.Lung nodules were automatically detected by using computer-aided diagnosis software,and radiation doses were recorded.Results Images reconstructed with the CI showed significantly superior signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)than with the CV(P＜0.05).Additionally,there was a significant correlation in lung nodule detection performance between the CI and the CV(P＜0.05).The effective dose(ED)in group B was reduced by approximately 85.80％compared to group A(P＜0.01).Although the SNR and CNR were highest with CI-90％,the subjective image quality was lower than that of CI-60％.CI-60％and CI-90％showed same performance in lung nodule detection using artificial intelligence(AI)software.Conclusion The application of LDCT scanning protocol using the CI algorithm based on deep learning,combined with high tube voltage and low tube current is feasible for lung screening.It is recommended to use CI-60％in clinical diagnosis to improve the safety and diagnostic confidence of lung CT screening.

Objective:To study the consistency between post-processing bone mineral density(BMD)values of multi-slice spiral computed tomography(MSCT)scan and the BMD value of quantitative computed tomography(QCT)for lumbar vertebra,so as to explore the feasibility of utilizing MSCT scan-based post-processing BMD values for lumbar vertebra in clinical practice.Methods:The MSCT equipment and QCT equipment were respectively adopted to conduct imaging scan for the L2-L4 of lumber vertebra of QRM-ESP145 European Spine Phantom(ESP),and L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of adult sheep,and L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of adult volunteer.The L2-L4 of ESP lumber vertebra and L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of adult sheep were scanned respectively MSCT and QCT for three times,so as to measure BMD values.The L2-L4 of lumbar vertebrae of volunteers were scanned respectively by the two methods for one time according to the standard of clinical examination,which were reconstructed by three times so as to obtain mean of them.The BMD values of QCT scan were set as control group,and the BMD values of MSCT scan were set as experiment group.The experiment group was further divided into experiment 1 group[two dimension(2D)regional volumetric BMD values of the lumbar vertebra]and experiment 2 group[three dimension(3D)global volumetric BMD post-processing of the lumbar vertebra]according to the reliability of experiment.Then,the consistency between the MSCT 3D post-processing BMD values of three groups and QCT-measured BMD values was compared and analyzed.Results:The MSCT 3D post-processing BMD values of L2-L4 of ESP lumbar vertebra of three groups were respectively(120.83±0.97),(199.57±0.54)and(119.19±1.04)mg/cm3,and that of L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of adult sheep of three groups were respectively(414.89±1.72),(410.50±0.77)and(420.25±2.71)mg/cm3,and that of L2-L4 of lumbar vertebra of volunteer were respectively(141.22±0.09),(137.38±0.37)and(152.03±1.03)mg/cm3.There were not statistically significant differences in BMD values between MSCT examination and QCT examination(P＞0.05).Conclusion:MSCT 3D post-processing BMD values on lumbar vertebra has high consistency with that of QCT measurements,which post-processing technique can replace QCT to conduct BMD examination,and reduce unnecessary radiation exposure and examination costs for patients.

Objective To explore the application value of the deep learning image reconstruction algorithm(ClearInfinity,CI)combined with high tube voltage and low tube current low-dose computed tomography(LDCT)in lung screening.Methods A total of 216 patients underwent lung screening CT plain scan were selected.Patients were randomly divided into conventional-dose group(A group)and low-dose group(B group).Image reconstructed by using the iterative algorithm(ClearView+,CV)in group A,CV-60％,CI-30％,CI-60％,and CI-90％algorithms in group B.CT value,noise,image quality,and edge detail were conducted with both objective and subjective evaluations.Lung nodules were automatically detected by using computer-aided diagnosis software,and radiation doses were recorded.Results Images reconstructed with the CI showed significantly superior signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)than with the CV(P＜0.05).Additionally,there was a significant correlation in lung nodule detection performance between the CI and the CV(P＜0.05).The effective dose(ED)in group B was reduced by approximately 85.80％compared to group A(P＜0.01).Although the SNR and CNR were highest with CI-90％,the subjective image quality was lower than that of CI-60％.CI-60％and CI-90％showed same performance in lung nodule detection using artificial intelligence(AI)software.Conclusion The application of LDCT scanning protocol using the CI algorithm based on deep learning,combined with high tube voltage and low tube current is feasible for lung screening.It is recommended to use CI-60％in clinical diagnosis to improve the safety and diagnostic confidence of lung CT screening.

“Cold-dampness entering ying （营）” is the key to the worsening of cold-dampness epidemic， and is more common in the elderly or critically ill cases of cold-dampness epidemic with pathogen exuberance and healthy qi deficiency. This paper reported a case of critically ill COVID-19 combined with multiple organ dysfunction treated by integrative traditional Chinese and western medicine based on “cold-dampness entering ying” theory. The patient did not have high fever after being infected with SARS-Cov-2， but D-dimer continued to increase， and she developed multiple thrombosis throughout the body and multiple organ dysfunctions such as pulmonary embolism， edema， oliguria， and shock. The patient were with enlarged and dusky tongue， with yellow， thick and greasy coating， and sublingual blood stasis， and thready， rapid and rough pulse. All these were characteristic manifestations of “cold-dampness entering ying”， and was differentiated as cold-dampness stasis. For the treatment， symptomatic and supportive western medicine of improving heart function， anti-infection， relieving asthma， stopping cough and reducing phlegm was given as the basic therapy， and additionally， traditional Chinese medicine to open the constraint and the blocked， save from collapse and restore yang， boost qi and relieve collapse， invigorate blood and drain water was used， usually with Modified Poge Zilong Xuanbai Chengqi Decoction （破格子龙宣白承气汤加减）， which was in accordance with the pathogenesis and thus achieving good effect.

AIM: To explore the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an NF-κB inhibitor, on the proliferation and apoptosis of human multiple myeloma U266 cells and its mechanisms.METHODS: The U266 cells were treated with PDTC at different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μmol/L) in vitro.The growth inhibitory rate of the U266 cells was detected by CCK-8 assay and cell counting.The cell cycle of the U266 cells was determined by flow cyto-metry, and the apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining.The effect of PDTC on the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) at mRNA and protein levels was measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively.The effects of PDTC on the protein levels of NF-κB (P65), DNMT1, Bcl-2, cyclin D1, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-8 were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: The protein level of NF-κB (P65) was decreased after treatment with PDTC for 48 h or 72 h.PDTC inhibited the proliferation of U266 cells in both dose-and time-dependent manners.After treatment with PDTC for 48 h, the percentage of U266 cells in G2 phase increased compared with control group (P<0.05).PDTC induced the apoptosis of U266 cells in a dose-dependent manner.The expression of DNMT1 at mRNA and protein levels decreased (P<0.05).The results of Western blot showed that the expression of Bcl-2 in PDTC groups decreased, while the protein levels of cyclin D1, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-8 were higher than those in control group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The NF-κB inhibitor PDTC inhibits the proliferation of U266 cells by inducing cell apoptosis.It may be related to the down-regulated expression of DNMT1, cell cycle arrest and activation of the apoptotic pathways.