With the advancement of medical imaging technology,MRI has become an essential tool for the diagnosis and research of neurological disorders.7T MRI,due to its high resolution and signal-to-noise ratio,demonstrates significant advantages in the diagnosis and research of neurological diseases.This article reviews the applications of 7T MRI in neurological research,including its use in neurodegenerative diseases,neuropsychiatric disorders and brain tumors.Furthermore,we discuss the future prospects and potential developments of 7T MRI in neuroimaging.

Purpose To compare the effectiveness of double-echo steady state(DESS)sequences at 7T and 3T MRI in peripheral nerves and nerve fascicles around the knee joint.Materials and Methods Fourteen healthy volunteers in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from July 2022 to March 2025 were selected for 3T and 7T MRI scans,which included three-dimensional dual-echo steady state(3D-DESS)and dual-echo steady state with higher in-plane spatial resolution(DESSHR).Image and tissue signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were measured.Qualitative metrics were assessed using a five-point Likert scale,and consistency of qualitative measurements was evaluated.Results The SNR of the peroneal nerve using the 3D-DESS sequence on 3T MRI was significantly lower than that on 7T MRI(t=2.913,P=0.011),while there were no statistically significant differences in SNR between other sequences(t=-0.564,-0.843,1.424,all P>0.05).The CNR of the peroneal nerve/fat using the 3D-DESS sequence on 7T MRI(t=2.490,P=0.027)and the DESSHR sequence(t=3.354,7.467,both P<0.01)was significantly higher than that of 3T MRI.However,the CNR of the tibial nerve/fat using the 3D-DESS sequence(t=-4.162,P=0.001)and the CNR of the tibial nerve/muscle using the DESSHR sequence(t=-4.358,P=0.001)were significantly lower on 7T MRI than those on 3T MRI.The image quality of both the DESSHR and 3D-DESS sequences on 7T MRI was significantly superior than those of on 3T MRI(mean differences:0.139,1.000;χ2=4.765,70.000,P<0.029,P<0.001),with clearer imaging of nerves around the knee(mean differences:0.717-2.071;χ2=66.000,62.000,68.000,23.684,60.000,58.000,61.000,58.000,all P<0.001);the DESSHR sequence on 3T MRI had fewer artifacts than that on 7T MRI(mean difference:-0.785;χ2=47.078,P<0.001).The qualitative measurement results were consistently evaluated by five assessors with good agreement(Kappa=0.67-0.85,P<0.001).Conclusion Compared with 3T MRI,the DESS sequence based on 7T can better visualize the common peroneal nerve,tibial nerve,saphenous nerve and their nerve bundles.

The main treatment methods of liver cancer include surgical resection,TACE,ablation,immunotherapy and liver transplantation,etc.Ablation promotes the death of liver cancer cells to achieve the purpose of anti-tumor.Immunotherapy can reactivate immune cells and generate new immune responses through corresponding pathways,so as to recognize and eliminate liver cancer cells.Combining ablation can synergistically enhance anti-tumor immune effect of immunotherapy for liver cancer.The research progresses of ablation combined with immunotherapy for liver cancer were reviewed in this article.

With the advancement of medical imaging technology,MRI has become an essential tool for the diagnosis and research of neurological disorders.7T MRI,due to its high resolution and signal-to-noise ratio,demonstrates significant advantages in the diagnosis and research of neurological diseases.This article reviews the applications of 7T MRI in neurological research,including its use in neurodegenerative diseases,neuropsychiatric disorders and brain tumors.Furthermore,we discuss the future prospects and potential developments of 7T MRI in neuroimaging.

Purpose To compare the effectiveness of double-echo steady state(DESS)sequences at 7T and 3T MRI in peripheral nerves and nerve fascicles around the knee joint.Materials and Methods Fourteen healthy volunteers in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from July 2022 to March 2025 were selected for 3T and 7T MRI scans,which included three-dimensional dual-echo steady state(3D-DESS)and dual-echo steady state with higher in-plane spatial resolution(DESSHR).Image and tissue signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)were measured.Qualitative metrics were assessed using a five-point Likert scale,and consistency of qualitative measurements was evaluated.Results The SNR of the peroneal nerve using the 3D-DESS sequence on 3T MRI was significantly lower than that on 7T MRI(t=2.913,P=0.011),while there were no statistically significant differences in SNR between other sequences(t=-0.564,-0.843,1.424,all P>0.05).The CNR of the peroneal nerve/fat using the 3D-DESS sequence on 7T MRI(t=2.490,P=0.027)and the DESSHR sequence(t=3.354,7.467,both P<0.01)was significantly higher than that of 3T MRI.However,the CNR of the tibial nerve/fat using the 3D-DESS sequence(t=-4.162,P=0.001)and the CNR of the tibial nerve/muscle using the DESSHR sequence(t=-4.358,P=0.001)were significantly lower on 7T MRI than those on 3T MRI.The image quality of both the DESSHR and 3D-DESS sequences on 7T MRI was significantly superior than those of on 3T MRI(mean differences:0.139,1.000;χ2=4.765,70.000,P<0.029,P<0.001),with clearer imaging of nerves around the knee(mean differences:0.717-2.071;χ2=66.000,62.000,68.000,23.684,60.000,58.000,61.000,58.000,all P<0.001);the DESSHR sequence on 3T MRI had fewer artifacts than that on 7T MRI(mean difference:-0.785;χ2=47.078,P<0.001).The qualitative measurement results were consistently evaluated by five assessors with good agreement(Kappa=0.67-0.85,P<0.001).Conclusion Compared with 3T MRI,the DESS sequence based on 7T can better visualize the common peroneal nerve,tibial nerve,saphenous nerve and their nerve bundles.

The main treatment methods of liver cancer include surgical resection,TACE,ablation,immunotherapy and liver transplantation,etc.Ablation promotes the death of liver cancer cells to achieve the purpose of anti-tumor.Immunotherapy can reactivate immune cells and generate new immune responses through corresponding pathways,so as to recognize and eliminate liver cancer cells.Combining ablation can synergistically enhance anti-tumor immune effect of immunotherapy for liver cancer.The research progresses of ablation combined with immunotherapy for liver cancer were reviewed in this article.

Objective By using high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography to display the vascular wall imaging so as to evaluate the relationship between plaque characteristics and postoperative in-stent restenosis(ISR)in patients with middle cerebral artery stenosis.Methods A total of 66 patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery stenosis,who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College of China from January 2019 to March 2023,were enrolled in this study.Before stent implantation,all the 66 patients completed high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography.According to the postoperative imaging follow-up results,the patients were divided into ISR group and non-ISR group.The preoperative plaque characteristics,which were assessed by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging,were compared between the two groups.Results ISR group had 14 patients and non-ISR group had 52 patients.Most of the plaques were located in the inferior lateral wall(37.8％)and the ventral lateral wall(28.7％),in which no statistically significant difference existed between the two groups(P＞0.05).Compared with non-ISR group,in ISR group the negative remodeling degree was obviously higher and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(x2=6.026,P=0.049).The plaque load in ISR group and non-ISR group was 79.09±8.82 and 69.46±10.49 respectively,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(t=3.143,P=0.003).The homocysteine level in ISR group and non-ISR group was(16.02±4.24)mol/L and(12.05±3.34)mol/L respectively,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(t=3.717,P＜0.001).In ISR group,there were more significantly contrast-enhanced plaques(78.5％vs.42.3％),with statistically significant difference(x2=6.311,P=0.043).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that plaque load(OR=1.225,95％CI:1.040-1.443,P=0.015)and homocysteine level(OR=1.676,95％CI:1.150-2.442,P=0.007)were the independent risk factors for ISR.ROC curve analysis showed that in predicting ISR,the AUC,specificity and sensitivity of the plaque load were 0.765(95％CI:0.622-0.908,P=0.002),0.731 and 0.714 respectively,which of the homocysteine level were 0.767(95％CI:0.623-0.911,P=0.002),0.942 and 0.500 respectively.The combination use of plaque load and homocysteine level could achieve the best predictive effect,its AUC,specificity and sensitivity were 0.887(95％CI:0.794-0.981,P＜0.001),0.904 and 0.714 respectively.Conclusion The plaque load assessed by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and the homocysteine level have higher specificity and sensitivity in predicting ISR in patients with middle cerebral artery stenosis.

Humans ; Tenofovir/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; Hepatitis B virus ; Viral Load ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

Background::Non-smokers account for a large proportion of lung cancer patients, especially in Asia, but the attention paid to them is limited compared with smokers. In non-smokers, males display a risk for lung cancer incidence distinct from the females—even after excluding the influence of smoking; but the knowledge regarding the factors causing the difference is sparse. Based on a large multicenter prospective cancer screening cohort in China, we aimed to elucidate the interpretable sex differences caused by known factors and provide clues for primary and secondary prevention.Methods::Risk factors including demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, family history of cancer, and baseline comorbidity were obtained from 796,283 Chinese non-smoking participants by the baseline risk assessment completed in 2013 to 2018. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the sex difference in the risk of lung cancer, and the hazard ratios (HRs) that were adjusted for different known factors were calculated and compared to determine the proportion of excess risk and to explain the existing risk factors.Results::With a median follow-up of 4.80 years, 3351 subjects who were diagnosed with lung cancer were selected in the analysis. The lung cancer risk of males was significantly higher than that of females; the HRs in all male non-smokers were 1.29 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20-1.38) after adjusting for the age and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.28-1.50) after adjusting for all factors, which suggested that known factors could not explain the sex difference in the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers. Known factors were 7% (|1.29-1.38|/1.29) more harmful in women than in men. For adenocarcinoma, women showed excess risk higher than men, contrary to squamous cell carcinoma; after adjusting for all factors, 47% ([1.30-1.16]/[1.30-1]) and 4% ([7.02-6.75]/[7.02-1])) of the excess risk was explainable in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The main causes of gender differences in lung cancer risk were lifestyle factors, baseline comorbidity, and family history.Conclusions::Significant gender differences in the risk of lung cancer were discovered in China non-smokers. Existing risk factors did not explain the excess lung cancer risk of all non-smoking men, and the internal causes for the excess risk still need to be explored; most known risk factors were more harmful to non-smoking women; further exploring the causes of the sex difference would help to improve the prevention and screening programs and protect the non-smoking males from lung cancers.

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have been commonly deployed to prevent and control the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting in a worldwide decline in influenza prevalence. However, the influenza risk in China warrants cautious assessment. We conducted a cross-sectional, seroepidemiological study in Shandong Province, Northern China in mid-2021. Hemagglutination inhibition was performed to test antibodies against four influenza vaccine strains. A combination of descriptive and meta-analyses was adopted to compare the seroprevalence of influenza antibodies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall seroprevalence values against A/H1N1pdm09, A/H3N2, B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata were 17.8% (95% CI 16.2%-19.5%), 23.5% (95% CI 21.7%-25.4%), 7.6% (95% CI 6.6%-8.7%), and 15.0 (95% CI 13.5%-16.5%), respectively, in the study period. The overall vaccination rate was extremely low (2.6%). Our results revealed that antibody titers in vaccinated participants were significantly higher than those in unvaccinated individuals (P < 0.001). Notably, the meta-analysis showed that antibodies against A/H1N1pdm09 and A/H3N2 were significantly low in adults after the COVID-19 pandemic (P < 0.01). Increasing vaccination rates and maintaining NPIs are recommended to prevent an elevated influenza risk in China.