Background: The function of CD69 expressed on T cells in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the roles of CD69 on T cells in the disease process and in antiviral therapy for CHB. Methods: We enrolled 335 treatment-naive patients with CHB and 93 patients with CHB on antiviral therapy. CD69, antiviral cytokine production by T cells, T-helper (Th) cells, and inhibitory molecules of T cells were measured using flow cytometry, and clinical-virological characteristics were examined dynamically during antiviral therapy. Results: CD69 expression on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells was the lowest in the immune-active phase and was negatively correlated with liver transaminase activity, fibrosis features, inflammatory cytokine production by T cells, and Th-cell frequencies but positively with inhibitory molecules on T cells. CD69 expression on CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells decreased after 48 weeks of antiviral therapy, and patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in week 48 showed lower CD69 expression on T cells at baseline and week 48. The area under the ROC curve of CD69 expression on T cells at baseline for predicting HBeAg seroconversion in week 48 was 0.870, the sensitivity was 0.909, and the specificity was 0.714 (P = 0.002). Conclusions CD69 negatively regulates T-cell immunity during CHB, and its expression decreases with antiviral therapy. CD69 expression predicts HBeAg seroconversion in week 48. CD69 may play an important negative role in regulating T cells and affect the efficacy of antiviral therapy.

Objective To analyze the imaging manifestations of malignant transformation of ovarian mature teratoma.Methods The clinical data and CT and MRI imaging findings of four patients confirmed as malignant transformation of ovarian mature teratoma by operation and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.The following imaging features were assessed:size,shape,texture,enhancement degree and pattern,et al.Results Among the four cases,three lesions were located in the left ovary and one in the right ovary.The minimum size and maximum size were 87 mm×80 mm×87 mm and 171 mm×141 mm×215 mm,respectively.All of the lesions showed as round-like or ovoid cystic masses with fat-fluid level(4/4),and floating mixed density or signal masses(2/4).The demonstrated local thickening of the cyst wall(2/4)and/or soft mass growing across the wall(3/4),with significant inhomogeneous enhancement(2/3).Conclusion The malignant transformation of ovarian mature teratoma often presents as a cystic mass with fat-fluid level,and local thickening or soft mass of the cyst wall,with significant enhancement.It should be considered in the elderly patients with abnormal tumor markers and above imaging features.

The genus jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)within the Rhamnaceae family encompasses numerous varieties,such as Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.jujuba,Ziziphus jujuba var.inermis,and var.spinosa,etc.Among these,the jujube fructus has the most abundant cultivated variants across the country,including Ziziphus jujuba cv.Hamidazao and Ziziphus jujuba cv.Huanghetanzao.Jujube plants are rich in variety and are used for both medicinal and food purposes.Polysaccharides,one of the main active ingredients of jujube,are important medicinal components that contribute to its efficacy.Jujube polysaccharides have been found to promote hematopoiesis,exhibit antioxidant and anti-tumor activities,repair liver damage,regulate the immune system,and provide anti-inflammatory effects.By comprehensively summarizing and analyzing the literature on jujube polysaccharides from different varieties and origins,this paper reviews the potential mechanisms of action of jujube polysaccharides in exerting biological activities.It also summarizes the primary structural features,such as relative molecular mass,monosaccharide composition,glycosidic linkage,and the substituent modifications of jujube polysaccharides by sulfation,phosphorylation,carboxymethylation,selenization,and acetylation.This review aims to provide a reference for the research and development of jujube in the fields of innovative polysaccharide drugs and functional foods.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)polysaccharides are active polysaccharides extracted from Chinese herbal medicines,many of which exhibit specific biological activities.Modern research has revealed that polysaccharide components extracted from plants,animals,and algae have a significant role in improving kidney injury.Currently,drug therapy is the primary treatment for kidney injury,with few reports on the use of TCM polysaccharides.This review explores the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of TCM polysaccharides on diabetic nephropathy,nephritis,kidney stones,hypertension-induced kidney injury,chemical toxin-induced kidney injury,and drug-induced kidney injury.Additionally,it discusses the prospects for the development of TCM polysaccharides in this field to provide a reference for further research.

Objective To explore the value of a clinical-radiomics-deep learning(CRDL)fusion model based on biparametric mag-netic resonance imaging(bpMRI)in predicting biochemical recurrence(BCR)after radical prostatectomy(RP).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 363 patients with prostate cancer(PCa)confirmed by RP pathology who underwent preoperative MRI,inclu-ding 84 cases experienced BCR(23.1％)and 279 cases did not experience BCR(76.9％).The patients were randomly divided into a training set(n=254)and a test set(n=109)in a ratio of 7∶3.Univariate Cox regression analysis was employed to select clinical variables related to BCR and the clinical model was constructed using backward stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis.The radiomics features and deep learning(DL)features based on the DenseNet network were extracted.Radiomics and DL signatures were separately developed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)-Cox regression algorithm.A CRDL fusion model was constructed by combining significant clinical features,DL signature and radiomics signature.The models'predictive performance for BCR was evaluated and compared using the concordance index(C-index).K-M survival curve and Log-rank test were used to assess the performance of CRDL fusion model in risk stratifica-tion of biochemical recurrence free survival(bRFS).Results In the test set,there was no statistically significant difference among C-index of radiomics signature,DL signature and clinical model(P＞0.05).The CRDL fusion model achieved a C-index of 0.83,higher than the clinical model,radiomics signature,and DL signature(P=0.03,0.01,and 0.03).K-M survival curve showed a significant difference in bRFS between low-risk and high-risk patients stratified by the CRDL fusion model[P＜0.000 1,hazard ratio(HR)=30.56,95％confidence interval(CI)10.64-87.75].Conclusion Radiomics signature and DL signature have comparable predictive per-formance for BCR after RP.The CRDL fusion model exhibits the best predictive efficacy for BCR,which is valuable for guiding postoperative treatment strategies in clinical practice.

ObjectiveTo explore the metabolic changes during the development of Tupaia belangeri breast tumors, to investigate the close relationship between the changes of serum metabolic substances and the occurrence and progression of tumors, and to screen for biomarkers reflecting the progression of breast tumors. MethodsBreast tumors in Tupaia belangeri were induced by orally administering 7,12-dimethylbenzoanthracene (DMBA) three times, with a 15-day interval between each administration, along with a high-fat and high-sugar diet. The DMBA-induced breast cancer group and the DMBA-inducedwithout breast cancer group were compared with the control group. Untargeted determination of serum metabolites was performed using gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) in DMBA-induced Tupaia belangeri with breast cancer, DMBA-induced without breast cancer and the control group. Multidimensional statistical analysis including unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares analysis (OPLS-DA) were conducted. Furthermore, t-test was used for intergroup differential comparison. Differential metabolites were screened under VIP>1 and P<0.05 conditions, and significantly changing differential metabolites were identified using the HMDB online database. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database was utilized to enrich metabolic-related gene regulatory pathways. ResultsThe incidence of breast tumors was 40% in DMBA-induced Tupaia belangeri. Compared with the control group, 30 metabolic differential products were detected in the serum of the group with breast cancer, with 18 down-regulated and 12 up-regulated (VIP>1, P<0.05). KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant changes in four metabolic pathways: glutamate metabolism, glyceride metabolism, citric acid cycle, and alanine metabolism. Compared with the group without breast cancer, 18 metabolic differential products were detected, with 7 down-regulated and 11 up-regulated (VIP>1, P<0.05). KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant changes in the citric acid cycle and glutamate metabolism. Compared with the control group, 31 metabolic differential products were detected in the serum of the groups without breast cancer, with 14 down-regulated and 17 up-regulated (VIP>1, P<0.05). KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant changes in three metabolic pathways: glutamate metabolism, glyceride metabolism, and citric acid cycle. ConclusionMetabolomics analysis can reveal the characteristics of changes in metabolites in the serum of breast tumors. The results suggest that glutamate metabolism, glyceride metabolism, citric acid cycle, and alanine metabolism pathways are associated with the occurrence and development of DMBA-induced breast tumors in Tupaia belangeri. It provides a foundation for further research into the biological mechanism of breast cancer.

Objective:To explore the value of nomogram based on dual-layer detector spectral CT quantitative parameters and conventional CT feature in evaluating high-grade pattern (HGP) of pulmonary invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma.Methods:This study was a case-control study. A total of 71 patients with pathologically confirmed pulmonary invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from February 2022 to May 2023 were retrospectively enrolled, which were divided into HGP and non-HGP groups according to pathological results. Conventional CT features were analyzed, including size, shape, density, internal signs, margins, and pleural retraction. The iodine concentration (IC), electron density (ED), and normalized iodine concentration (NIC) of the lesions in both the arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP) were measured. Differences between the two groups were analyzed using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or χ2 test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to select the independent influencing factors of HGP in pulmonary invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma, and the conventional CT feature model, the spectral CT quantitative parameter model, and the combined model were constructed and expressed in a nomogram. The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the performance of each model, and was compared by DeLong test. Decision curves (DCA) was used to assess the clinical net benefit of the models. Results:There were significant differences between HGP group and non-HGP group in terms of density, lobulation, spiculation, IC AP, IC VP, NIC AP, ED AP and ED VP (all P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the solid nodule ( OR=15.452, 95% CI 4.246-56.235, P<0.001), lobulation ( OR=7.069, 95% CI 1.618-30.883, P=0.009), ED AP( OR=1.183, 95% CI 1.064-1.315, P=0.002) and IC VP ( OR=0.231, 95% CI 0.072-0.744, P=0.014) were independent influencing factors for predicting HGP in pulmonary invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma. The AUC of the conventional CT feature model, spectral CT quantitative parameter model, and the combined model were 0.835, 0.890, and 0.915, respectively. The AUC of the combined model was better than that of the conventional CT feature model ( Z=2.67, P=0.008). The DCA analysis demonstrated that the nomogram had higher clinical net benefit than the conventional CT feature model. Conclusions:The nomogram based on the quantitative parameters of dual-layer detector spectral CT and conventional CT features have favorable diagnostic efficacy in predicting HGP in pulmonary invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma, and can be used as a reliable tool for non-invasive diagnosis of HGP before surgery.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of multiparametric myocardial imaging using a dual-layer detector spectral CT in the non-invasive preoperative assessment of patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:The clinical and imaging data of 90 patients who underwent coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with dual-layer spectral detector CT and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) within 30 days at the Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University from January 2021 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 189 coronary arteries were included in the study cohort. The patients were divided into PCI ( n=44) and non-PCI groups ( n=46) according to whether they received PCI after evaluation with ICA. The diameter stenosis rate of the coronary arteries, myocardial iodine concentration (IC) and effective atomic number (Z eff) values were obtained from CCTA conventional and spectral images. The IC values and Z eff values of the myocardium in the areas with abnormal perfusion were compared with those in the areas with normal perfusion. The diagnostic performance of these parameters, as well as their combined model, was evaluated and compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) in the pre-PCI assessment of patients with CHD. Results:Baseline patient data did not show statistically significant differences between the PCI and non-PCI groups (all P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in IC values [(0.42±0.28) and (2.26±0.48) mg/ml] and Z eff values (7.39±0.33 and 8.50±0.25) between the myocardium areas with abnormal perfusion and the myocardium areas with normal perfusion in all patients (all P<0.001). The AUC for assessing whether patients with CHD need PCI treatment using myocardial IC and Z eff values were 0.865 and 0.853, respectively, which were significantly higher than assessment based only on lumen diameter stenosis rate (AUC=0.726, P<0.001). Conclusions:The IC and Z eff derived from myocardial spectral images can be used to diagnose myocardial perfusion abnormalities in patients with CHD. The spectral myocardial multi-parameters imaging shows promising potentials in pre-PCI assessment of patients with CHD, which can improve the efficiency of evaluation and may help to avoid unnecessarily invasive procedures.

Objective:To investigate the value of the nomogram based on quantitative parameters of dual-layer detector spectral CT and conventional CT features in preoperatively predicting tumor deposits (TDs) in colorectal cancer.Methods:This study was a case-control study. A total of 126 patients with pathologically confirmed colorectal cancer who underwent preoperative spectral CT scan from January 2022 to March 2023 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were enrolled retrospectively. Patients were divided into TDs-positive group ( n=38) and TDs-negative group ( n=88) based on pathological results. The following conventional CT features were assessed: cT stage, cN status, uniformity of enhancement in the venous phase, pericolorectal fat invasion (PFI), maximum tumor diameter, and tumor location. The following quantitative parameters were also measured and calculated: the normalized iodine concentration (NIC) of lesions, the normalized effective atomic number (NZ eff), and the slope of the 40-100 keV spectral curve (K) in the arterial and venous phases, and the difference in NIC between the arterial and venous phases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to select independent predictors of TDs and the nomogram based on spectral CT quantitative parameters and conventional CT features was constructed. The receiver operating characteristic curve was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of each parameter and model. DeLong test was used to compare the differences of area under the curve (AUC). Results:Statistically significant differences were found between the TDs-positive and TDs-negative groups for the cT stage, cN status, uniformity of enhancement in the venous phase, PFI, NIC, NZ eff, K in the venous phase and the difference in NIC between the arterial and venous phases ( P<0.05). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, the conventional CT feature model incorporated two features: uniformity of enhancement in the venous phase (OR=9.602, 95% CI 3.728-24.734, P=0.001) and PFI ( OR=2.881, 95% CI 1.177-7.049, P=0.020). The combined model of conventional CT features and spectral CT quantitative parameters incorporated three features: the difference in NIC between the arterial and venous phases ( OR=37.599, 95% CI 8.320-169.912, P=0.001), uniformity of enhancement in the venous phase ( OR=14.978, 95% CI 3.848-58.295, P=0.001), and PFI ( OR=4.013, 95% CI 1.320-12.760, P=0.015), and the nomogram was constructed. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of the nomogram for predicting TDs were 0.919 (95% CI 0.865-0.973), 84.2%, and 86.5%, respectively. The AUC of the conventional CT feature model was 0.796 (95% CI 0.707-0.885), which was lower than that of the nomogram, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=3.87, P=0.001). Conclusion:Dual-layer spectral detector CT can be used to predict TDs in colorectal cancer preoperatively, and the nomogram based on quantitative parameters of dual-layer detector spectral CT and conventional CT features shows good diagnostic performance.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of prostate imaging recurrence reporting (PI-RR) system for detecting local recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) in prostate cancer (PCa) and to assess the consistency of the PI-RR scores assigned by different seniority radiologists.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 176 PCa patients who underwent multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) for biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP from July 2015 to October 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively collected. The mpMRI images were reviewed and the PI-RR scores of the main lesions were assigned independently by six different seniority radiologists (2 junior, 2 senior and 2 expert radiologists). Following the reference standard determined by biopsy pathologic results, follow-up imaging, or prostate specific antigen levels, the patients were divided into two groups: 54 patients with local recurrence and 122 patients without local recurrence. The intraclass correlation coefficient ( ICC) and Kappa test were used to evaluate the consistency of the PI-RR scores by different seniority radiologists. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the PI-RR scores assessed by different seniority radiologists for detecting local recurrence of PCa after RP. The DeLong test was utilized to compare the areas under the ROC curve (AUC) of different seniority radiologist PI-RR scores and a false discovery rate (FDR) was applied to correct results using the Benjamini and Hochberg method. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to the cutoff value of PI-RR score≥3 or 4. Results:The ICC (95% CI) of all different seniority radiologists was 0.70 (0.64-0.76). The Kappa value was 0.528, 0.325 and 0.370 respectively between expert and senior radiologists, expert and junior radiologists, senior and junior radiologists. The AUC (95% CI) of junior, senior, and expert radiologists were separately 0.73 (0.65-0.81), 0.81 (0.74-0.88), and 0.86 (0.80-0.93). The AUC of the expert radiologist PI-RR score was higher than those of senior and junior radiologist PI-RR scores ( Z=2.22, 3.21, FDR P=0.039, 0.003). The PI-RR score of senior radiologist had higher AUC than that of junior radiologist ( Z=2.22, FDR P=0.026). With the PI-RR score of 3 or greater as a cutoff value, the sensitivity of junior, senior and expert radiologists were respectively 0.59, 0.65, and 0.78 and the specificity were 0.82, 0.93, and 0.95. With the PI-RR score of 4 or greater as a cutoff value, the sensitivity of junior, senior and expert radiologists were respectively 0.50, 0.54, and 0.69 and the specificity were 0.88, 0.96 and 0.97. Conclusion:PI-RR score can accurately diagnose local recurrence of PCa after RP. PI-RR score has a moderate inter-reader consistency across different seniority radiologists. And the diagnostic performance is influenced by the experience of radiologists.