Objective:To explore the impact of the two-way referral model on compliance and prognosis in patients with heart failure.Methods:This bidirectional cohort study enrolled chronic heart failure (CHF) patients treated at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University or designated primary hospitals between March 2018 and March 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups based on referral status: two-way referral group (participating in the referral model with≥1 follow-up visit at primary hospitals) and the core hospital group (receiving treatment and follow-up exclusively at Qilu Hospital). Baseline clinical characteristics were collected and compared between groups. Patients underwent followed-up, with primary endpoints including follow-up rate, drug (β-blockers, angiotension converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blockers (ARB)/angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists) utilization rate and target dose achievement rate. Secondary endpoints encompassed changes from baseline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), plus cardiovascular mortality and heart failure rehospitalization. Generalized linear mixed models analyzed longitudinal trends in LVEF, LVEDd, and NT-proBNP levels. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression evaluated LVEF recovery rates, supplemented by subgroup analyses. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors influencing target dose achievement rate for β-blockers and ACEI/ARB/ARNI therapies in CHF patients.Results:A total of 357 patients were enrolled, aged 53 (41, 63) years, including 256 males (71.7%). 157 patients were in the two-way referral group and 200 patients in the core hospital-treated group. Compared with the core hospital-treated group, the two-way referral group had lower baseline LVEF (28 (22, 34)% vs. 31 (23, 36)%, P=0.021) and systolic blood pressure (116 (104, 125) mmHg vs. 121 (109, 134) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), P=0.010). The 12-month follow-up rate of the two-way referral group was higher than the core hospital-treated group (73.8% vs. 56.0%, P=0.004). No significant between-group differences were observed in drug utilization rate of β-blockers, ACEI/ARB/ARNI, or sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors during follow-up (all P>0.05), while mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists use showed a declining trend in both groups. Although the core hospital-treated group had higher target dose achievement rates for β-blockers (65.4% vs. 49.3%, P=0.042) and ACEI/ARB/ARNI (79.8% vs. 65.8%, P=0.046) than the two-way referral group, multivariate logistic regression indicated that the two-way referral model was not a negative predictor for these outcomes (all P>0.05). Both groups showed improved NT-proBNP, LVEDd, and LVEF from baseline (all P<0.001) with no significant difference in trends between groups (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the composite incidence (7.6% vs. 6.5%, P=0.674) and cumulative incidence (log-rank P=0.684) of cardiovascular death and heart failure rehospitalization at 12 months between two groups. Conclusion:The two-way referral model demonstrates advantages in improving medication adherence, drug utilization rates, and targetdoseachievement rates among CHF patients. This model not only promotes cardiac functional recovery but also reduces risks of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure rehospitalization, achieving comparable therapeutic and management outcomes to those observed in core hospital-treated patients.

Objective:To explore the impact of the two-way referral model on compliance and prognosis in patients with heart failure.Methods:This bidirectional cohort study enrolled chronic heart failure (CHF) patients treated at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University or designated primary hospitals between March 2018 and March 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups based on referral status: two-way referral group (participating in the referral model with≥1 follow-up visit at primary hospitals) and the core hospital group (receiving treatment and follow-up exclusively at Qilu Hospital). Baseline clinical characteristics were collected and compared between groups. Patients underwent followed-up, with primary endpoints including follow-up rate, drug (β-blockers, angiotension converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blockers (ARB)/angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists) utilization rate and target dose achievement rate. Secondary endpoints encompassed changes from baseline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), plus cardiovascular mortality and heart failure rehospitalization. Generalized linear mixed models analyzed longitudinal trends in LVEF, LVEDd, and NT-proBNP levels. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression evaluated LVEF recovery rates, supplemented by subgroup analyses. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors influencing target dose achievement rate for β-blockers and ACEI/ARB/ARNI therapies in CHF patients.Results:A total of 357 patients were enrolled, aged 53 (41, 63) years, including 256 males (71.7%). 157 patients were in the two-way referral group and 200 patients in the core hospital-treated group. Compared with the core hospital-treated group, the two-way referral group had lower baseline LVEF (28 (22, 34)% vs. 31 (23, 36)%, P=0.021) and systolic blood pressure (116 (104, 125) mmHg vs. 121 (109, 134) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), P=0.010). The 12-month follow-up rate of the two-way referral group was higher than the core hospital-treated group (73.8% vs. 56.0%, P=0.004). No significant between-group differences were observed in drug utilization rate of β-blockers, ACEI/ARB/ARNI, or sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors during follow-up (all P>0.05), while mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists use showed a declining trend in both groups. Although the core hospital-treated group had higher target dose achievement rates for β-blockers (65.4% vs. 49.3%, P=0.042) and ACEI/ARB/ARNI (79.8% vs. 65.8%, P=0.046) than the two-way referral group, multivariate logistic regression indicated that the two-way referral model was not a negative predictor for these outcomes (all P>0.05). Both groups showed improved NT-proBNP, LVEDd, and LVEF from baseline (all P<0.001) with no significant difference in trends between groups (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the composite incidence (7.6% vs. 6.5%, P=0.674) and cumulative incidence (log-rank P=0.684) of cardiovascular death and heart failure rehospitalization at 12 months between two groups. Conclusion:The two-way referral model demonstrates advantages in improving medication adherence, drug utilization rates, and targetdoseachievement rates among CHF patients. This model not only promotes cardiac functional recovery but also reduces risks of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure rehospitalization, achieving comparable therapeutic and management outcomes to those observed in core hospital-treated patients.

Objective:To explore the effect of different post-processing parameters of digital radiography (DR) on the quality of chest X-ray for pneumoconiosis diagnosis, and to provide suggestions on parameter setting suitable for this kind of DR machine.Methods:From January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022, the chest films of 35 workers in the department of radiology of Hangzhou occupational disease prevention and treatment hospital were randomly selected and printed after setting different image post-processing parameters. The quality of chest film was evaluated by the measurement of optical densitometer and the combination of subjective and objective by professional physicians.Results:When the density is set to 2 and the contrast/detail contrast is 4.5, the optical density of each area of DR chest film meets the requirements of chest X-ray quality, and the qualified rate of physician quality evaluation is the highest.Conclusion:Reasonable setting of image post-processing parameters can improve the quality of chest radiograph.

Objective:To explore the effect of different post-processing parameters of digital radiography (DR) on the quality of chest X-ray for pneumoconiosis diagnosis, and to provide suggestions on parameter setting suitable for this kind of DR machine.Methods:From January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022, the chest films of 35 workers in the department of radiology of Hangzhou occupational disease prevention and treatment hospital were randomly selected and printed after setting different image post-processing parameters. The quality of chest film was evaluated by the measurement of optical densitometer and the combination of subjective and objective by professional physicians.Results:When the density is set to 2 and the contrast/detail contrast is 4.5, the optical density of each area of DR chest film meets the requirements of chest X-ray quality, and the qualified rate of physician quality evaluation is the highest.Conclusion:Reasonable setting of image post-processing parameters can improve the quality of chest radiograph.

Objective: Systematic nodal dissection (SND) is an important component of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but modification of this procedure is rarely reported. In this paper, we reported a modified technique of systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection (MLND) of operable lung cancer by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Parallel upward dissection (the PUD technique) was named due to this modification and the efficacy of the PUD technique was evaluated as well.Methods: We summarized the tips of the PUD technique and its version was updated in surgical aspect. The design and procedure sequence of the PUD technique were introduced in detail as well as its pros and cons. A retrospective study was performed on 998 cases of locally advanced NSCLC which accepted the PUD procedure in Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, from 2012 to 2020. The perioperative mortality and the incidence of general and serious complications (such as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, bronchopleural fistula) were analyzed. Results: All the 998 cases were operated successfully with the PUD technique and few post-operation complications were found. There was no perioperative mortality and severe complication such as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and bronchopleural fistula. Conclusion:The PUD technique is safe and convenient and it can be a good supplement to the existing surgical techniques for locally advanced lung cancer.

Objective:To analyze the feasibility of hippocampal-avoidance (HA) prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in small cell lung cancer patients (SCLC)(limited stage) after chemotherapy and thoracic radiation.Methods:From June 2016 to March 2019, 40 eligible SCLC patients were recruited and randomly divided into the routine PCI ( n=22) and hippocampal-avoidance PCI (HA-PCI) groups ( n=18). The HA zone was contoured according to the criteria of RTOG 0933. Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) was adopted in the HA-PCI group. After radiotherapy, Hopkins verbal learning test (HVLT) and MRI were performed. Results:The average hippocampus volume was (4.01±1.57) cm 3, the average HA volume was (20.13±4.14) cm 3, HA D 100% was (7.19±0.38) Gy and HA D max was (14.38±1.18) Gy. During HVLT, 1-month-after-PCI vs. before-PCI (trial3, trial4, learning, percent retained), 1-month-after-PCI vs. after-PCI (trial3, learning), HA-PCI cohort showed advantages over PCI in HVLT scores. The average follow-up time was (17.00±8.47) months. Two patients with brain metastases which were out of the HAZ received routine PCI. Conclusions:PCI using VMAT technology to protect hippocampus is feasible in dosimetry. The test results indicate that the protective effect of hippocampus protection on memory is worthy of further promotion in clinical practice.

Objective To analyse the memory function and MRI changes in local-advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients before-and after-radiation.Methods Clinical data,dosimetric data,digital span score and MRI of 14 cases with nasopharyngeal carcinom treated in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from November 2015 to August 2016 were retrospectively analysed.There were 1 case at T2 stage,7 cases at T3 and 6 at T4.They received IMRT or TOMO therapy concurrent with 2 cycles Nedaplatin after 2-3 cycles PF/TP induction chemotherapy.Results The IMRT dosimetric data of 9 cases were available.For hippocampus and temporal lobe,the mean volume was (15.17 ± 2.17) and (95.07 ± 12.26) cm3,respectively,while the mean dose was (1 154.06 ±771.63) and (1 306.61 ±603.69) Gy,and the max dose (3 797.61 ± 1 450.98) and (5 394.17 ± 982.28) Gy,respectively.The equivalent uniform dose (EUD) was (2 233.28 ±872.73) Gy for hippocampus and (3 113.11 ±603.69) Gy for temporal lobe.10 patients received digit span score before-and 3 months after-radiotherapy.The mean score of forward digit span was 8.8 ± 1.8 before radiation and 8.1 ± 1.59 at 3 months after radiation(P ＞ 0.05),while thatof backward digit span decreased from 6.2 ± 1.04 before radiation to 5.3 ± 2.36 at 3 months after radiation (t =3.25,P ＜ 0.05).9 patients' MRI were available.Volume reduction of temporal lobe was observed (t =4.57,P ＜ 0.01) by voxel-based morphometry (VBM).Conclusions Radiation-induced injury to hippocampus and temporal lobe is inevitable in local-advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.There might be some connection between memory loss and temporal lobe volume atrophy after radiotherapy.Enrollment of larger sample analysis is expected.

Objective To analyze the exposed dose of hippocampus(HC)of T3,T4nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy(IMRT). Methods The bilateral HCs were delineated and were divided into head(HH),body(HB)and tail(HT)for 62 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with IMRT.The dose parameters of HC were then analyzed. Results The mean dose of left and right HC was(1 127±704)cGy,(1 173±762)cGy. The mean dose of left HH,HB and HT was(1 732±1029)cGy,(820±632)cGy,(423±366)cGy(P=0.000);while the mean dose of right HH, HB and HT was(1 985±1101)cGy,(837±531)cGy,(432±343)cGy(P=0.000).The exposed dose and the volume exposed in different dose of HH were obviously higher than those of HB and HT.The dose parameters of HH,HB and HT decreased in turn. The involvement of sphenoid sinus,ethmoid sinus and cavernous sinus correlated with high exposed dose of HC. Conclusions The exposed dose of HH,HB and HT was different in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with IMRT.The exposed dose of HH was the highest,which should be emphasized especially. The involvement of sphenoid sinus,ethmoid sinus and cavernous sinus suggest high exposed dose of HC.

Objective To analyze the radiation doses to the head, body, and tail of the hippocampus in intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)for nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC). Methods Ten NPC patients treated with IMRT were selected,and the head, body, and tail of both hippocampi were delineated on T1-weighted images. The doses to the hippocampus were then analyzed. WAIS-CR speech test results were tested by paired sample t-test. Results The mean doses to left and right hippocampi were 1 147±976 cGy and 1 011±602 cGy, respectively. The mean doses to the head, body, and tail of the left hippocampus were 1 739± 1 317 cGy, 890± 982 cGy, and 547± 688 cGy, respectively(P=0.042);the mean doses to the head,body,and tail of the right hippocampus were 1 691±942 cGy,744±483 cGy,and 531±603 cGy,respectively(P=0.002).The dose to the hippocampus decreased from the head to the tail, and the irradiated volume also decreased as the dose varied. Conclusions The dose to hippocampus decreases from the head to the tail in NPC patients treated with IMRT,which is worthy of attention.

Objective To observe the significance of rehabilitation integrated system for stroke patients. Methods From October, 2013 to June, 2015, 95 stroke patients were divided randomly into experimental group (n=48) and control group (n=47). The experimental group received rehabilitation under the guide of rehabilitation integrated system, while the control group in the routine process. They were assessed with simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Barthel Index (BI) before and 3 months after treatment. The satisfaction was also inves-tigated. Results There was no significant difference between groups in the differences of scores of FMA and BI before and after treatment (t<1.044, P>0.05), while the satisfaction was higher in the experimental group (t=4.287, P<0.01). Conclusion The application of rehabilitation integrated system may improve the process of treatment and the efficiency of management, and result in more satisfaction of the stroke pa-tients.