Objective:To investigate the application value of dual-layer detector spectral CT in the precise outlining of gross tumor volume (GTV) in lung cancer patients.Methods:Imaging data of 39 patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer on dual-energy enhanced CT scans in Hebei Medical University Third Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 13 patients were not complicated with lung atelectasis and 26 cases were complicated with lung atelectasis and 9 of them received positron emission computed tomography (PET-CT) scan. The virtual single-energy images of arterial and venous dual-phase 40 keV images were reconstructed with the spectral base images of Iqon dual-energy CT, and the GTV of the primary foci was outlined using the reconstructed images and conventional enhanced CT images. The GTV outlined by conventional enhanced CT image, 40 keV virtual monoenergetic (VM) CT image, 40 keV VM-iodine density (VM-ID) fusion image in the arterial phase, conventional enhanced CT image, 40 keV VM image and 40 keV VM-ID image in the venous phase and PET-CT image was defined as GTV ACT, GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV VCT, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT, respectively. The consistency of target area outlining was assessed by calculating the GTV volume, the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), and the 95 th percentile of the Hausdorff distance (HD95). Pairwise comparison among groups was conducted by Friedman test and corrected by Bonferroni correction. Results:In GTV comparisons, the differences in GTV ACT, GTV VCT, GTV A40VM and GTV V40VM in patients without pulmonary atelectasis were not statistically significant ( χ2=1.89, P=0.595). The DSC and HD95 of GTV ACTvs. GTV A40VM were 0.96 and 3.00, and the DSC and HD95 of GTV VCTvs. GTV V40VM were 0.94 and 2.93, respectively. The differences in GTV ACT, GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV VCT, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT in patients complicated with pulmonary atelectasis were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction showed that there was no statistically significant difference in GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT (all P=1.000), all of which were significantly smaller than those of GTV ACT and GTV VCT (both P=0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between GTV ACT and GTV VCT (both P=1.000). Based on the tumor extent shown by PET-CT (standardized uptake value =2.5), DSC were slightly higher and HD95 were slightly lower than conventional enhanced CT of GTV A40VM, GTV V40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV V40VMIDvs. GTV PET-CT, respectively. When the arterial phase sequences were compared with PET-CT, pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction showed that the DSC and HD95 of GTV A40VMvs. GTV PET-CT and GTV ACTvs. GTV PET-CT were statistically significant (both P<0.01), and the differences were not statistically significant among the remaining groups (all P>0.05). When intravenous phase sequences were compared with PET-CT, pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction revealed that the DSC and HD95 of GTV V40VMIDvs. GTV PET-CT and GTV VCTvs. GTV PET-CT were statistically significant (both P<0.01), and the differences were not statistically significant among the remaining groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The use of 40 keV VMI-ID fusion images to outline the target area of the primary tumor lesions is closer to that of PET-CT, which provides a novel option for the precise outlining of the target area of clinical radiotherapy.

Objective:To investigate the application value of dual-layer detector spectral CT in the precise outlining of gross tumor volume (GTV) in lung cancer patients.Methods:Imaging data of 39 patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer on dual-energy enhanced CT scans in Hebei Medical University Third Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 13 patients were not complicated with lung atelectasis and 26 cases were complicated with lung atelectasis and 9 of them received positron emission computed tomography (PET-CT) scan. The virtual single-energy images of arterial and venous dual-phase 40 keV images were reconstructed with the spectral base images of Iqon dual-energy CT, and the GTV of the primary foci was outlined using the reconstructed images and conventional enhanced CT images. The GTV outlined by conventional enhanced CT image, 40 keV virtual monoenergetic (VM) CT image, 40 keV VM-iodine density (VM-ID) fusion image in the arterial phase, conventional enhanced CT image, 40 keV VM image and 40 keV VM-ID image in the venous phase and PET-CT image was defined as GTV ACT, GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV VCT, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT, respectively. The consistency of target area outlining was assessed by calculating the GTV volume, the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), and the 95 th percentile of the Hausdorff distance (HD95). Pairwise comparison among groups was conducted by Friedman test and corrected by Bonferroni correction. Results:In GTV comparisons, the differences in GTV ACT, GTV VCT, GTV A40VM and GTV V40VM in patients without pulmonary atelectasis were not statistically significant ( χ2=1.89, P=0.595). The DSC and HD95 of GTV ACTvs. GTV A40VM were 0.96 and 3.00, and the DSC and HD95 of GTV VCTvs. GTV V40VM were 0.94 and 2.93, respectively. The differences in GTV ACT, GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV VCT, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT in patients complicated with pulmonary atelectasis were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction showed that there was no statistically significant difference in GTV A40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV V40VM, GTV V40VMID and GTV PET-CT (all P=1.000), all of which were significantly smaller than those of GTV ACT and GTV VCT (both P=0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between GTV ACT and GTV VCT (both P=1.000). Based on the tumor extent shown by PET-CT (standardized uptake value =2.5), DSC were slightly higher and HD95 were slightly lower than conventional enhanced CT of GTV A40VM, GTV V40VM, GTV A40VMID, GTV V40VMIDvs. GTV PET-CT, respectively. When the arterial phase sequences were compared with PET-CT, pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction showed that the DSC and HD95 of GTV A40VMvs. GTV PET-CT and GTV ACTvs. GTV PET-CT were statistically significant (both P<0.01), and the differences were not statistically significant among the remaining groups (all P>0.05). When intravenous phase sequences were compared with PET-CT, pairwise comparison of Bonferroni correction revealed that the DSC and HD95 of GTV V40VMIDvs. GTV PET-CT and GTV VCTvs. GTV PET-CT were statistically significant (both P<0.01), and the differences were not statistically significant among the remaining groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The use of 40 keV VMI-ID fusion images to outline the target area of the primary tumor lesions is closer to that of PET-CT, which provides a novel option for the precise outlining of the target area of clinical radiotherapy.

Objective:To evaluate the optimization strategy of anesthesia for laparoscopic nephrectomy in elderly patients using ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block combined with total intravenous anesthesia.Methods:This was a prospective randomized controlled study. Seventy elderly patients, aged 60-80 yr, with a body mass index of 22-30 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ-Ⅲ, scheduled for elective/limited laparoscopic nephrectomy under total intravenous anesthesia in our hospital from April to October 2023, were divided into a total intravenous anesthesia group (TIVA group) and an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block combined with total intravenous anesthesia group (ESPB group) using a random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. Two groups used the same general anesthesia regimen. The ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block was performed at the T 11 level after general anesthesia, and 0.3% ropivacaine 30 ml was injected after the successful puncture in ESPB group. The postoperative quality of recovery was assessed using the 15-item Quality-of-Recovery scale. The postoperative rescue analgesia and occurrence of adverse reactions were recorded. Results:Compared with TIVA group, the 15-item Quality-of-Recovery scale score was significantly increased, the rate of postoperative rescue analgesia was decreased, and the incidence of adverse reactions was decreased in ESPB group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block combined with total intravenous anesthesia is beneficial for the postoperative outcomes of elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Objective To compare the sedative efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine and sufen-tanil combined with propofol in elderly patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP).Methods Sixty elderly patients from July to October 2022,aged 65-90 years,BMI 15-33 kg/m2,ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ,had normal cardiac function or NHYA grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ,underwent ERCP were enrolled.Patients were divided into two groups by random number table method:the dexmedeto-midine group(group D)and the sufentanil group(group S),30 patients in each group.Group D received an intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg for 10 minutes followed by intravenous propofol 1 mg/kg for sedation induction.Group S received intravenous sufentanil 0.12 μg/kg followed by intravenous propofol 1 mg/kg for sedation induction.The operation time,total dosage of propofol,incidence of body movement were recorded.The lowest SpO2,use of airway interventions,incidence of hypoxemia were recor-ded.Adverse cardiovascular events(tachycardia,bradycardia,hypertension,hypotension,and arrhythmia)were recorded.Awakening time,VAS pain scores at rest 15 minutes after entering PACU,incidence of mod-erate to severe postoperative pain,and postoperative nausea and vomiting in PACU were recorded.Results Adequate deep sedation was successfully achieved in the two groups(Ramsay scale≥5 scores).Compared with group S,the lowest SpO2 and bradycardia were significantly increased(P＜0.05),the use of airway interventions,hypoxemia,tachycardia,and hypotension were significantly decreased in group D(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in operation time,total dosage of propofol,incidence of body movement,hypertension,VAS pain scores at rest 15 minutes after entering PACU,moderate to severe post-operative pain,and postoperative nausea and vomiting in PACU between the two groups.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine or sufentanil combined with propofol can provide adequate deep sedation for ERCP proce-dure.Dexmedetomidine combined with propofol can keep intraoperative cardiovascular function more stable,and reduce the occurrence of intraoperative hypoxemia and cardiovascular adverse events.

Objective:To analyze the expression and significance of interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-23 and IL-22 in Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN) pneumonia in rats. Methods:A total of 40 male SPF rats were randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group according to the simple number random table method, with 20 rats in each group. The control group was simultaneously dropped with 2 mL normal saline, while the experimental group was inoculated with a 2 mL suspension of 0.9×10 9 CFU/mL. The lung tissue was taken for pathological and bacteriological examination. Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2), serum IL-17, IL-23 and IL-22 levels were detected after surgery for 4 h, 1 d, 3 d and 5 d. White blood cell count (WBC) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) were performed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the relevance between IL-17, IL-23, IL-22 and PaO 2, and WBC, ANC in BALF was analyzed. Results:After surgery for 4 h, 1 d, 3 d and 5 d, the CFU count of lung tissue in experimental group rats decreased over time. PaO 2 in experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group after surgery for 4 h, 1 d, 3 d and 5 d ( P<0.05), while WBC and ANC in BALF in the experimental group were significantly higher at the same time ( P<0.05). The levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in serum in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group after surgery for 4 h, 1 d, 3 d and 5 d ( P<0.05), and the levels of IL-22 in serum in the experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group at the same time ( P<0.05). Pearson analysis showed that IL-17 and IL-23 were negatively correlated with PaO 2 ( P<0.05) and positively correlated with WBC and ANC ( P<0.05). IL-22 was positively correlated with PaO 2 ( P<0.05), and negatively correlated with WBC and ANC ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Serum IL-17, IL-23, and IL-22 levels were significantly altered during the course of KPN rats, and serum IL-17, IL-23, and IL-22 levels were correlated with severity of illness.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the marginal roughness and marginal fitness of chairside computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) laminate veneers with different materials and thicknesses, and to provide a reference for the clinical application of laminate veneers. METHODS: The butt-to-butt type laminate veneers were prepared on resin typodonts, the preparations were scanned, and the laminate veneers were manufactured by chairside CAD/CAM equipment. The laminate veneers were divided into four groups (n=9) according to the materials (glass-matrix ceramics and resin-matrix ceramics) and thickness (0.3 mm and 0.5 mm) of the veneers, with a total of 36. The marginal topo-graphies of each laminate veneer were digitally recorded by stereomicroscope, and the marginal rough-nesses of the laminate veneers were determined by ImageJ software. The marginal fitness of the laminate veneers was measured by a fit checker and digital scanning and measuring method. At the same time, the mechanical properties of glass-matrix ceramic and resin-matrix ceramic bars (n=20) were tested by a universal testing device. RESULTS: The marginal roughness of 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm glass-matrix ceramic laminate veneers was (24.48±5.55) μm and (19.06±5.75) μm, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). The marginal roughness of 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm resin-matrix ceramic laminate veneers was (6.13±1.27) μm and (6.84±2.19) μm, respectively, without a statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The marginal roughness of the glass-matrix ceramic laminate veneers was higher than that of the resin-matrix ceramic laminate veneers with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001). The marginal fitness of 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm glass-matrix ceramic laminate veneers were (66.30±26.71) μm and (85.48±30.44) μm, respectively. The marginal fitness of 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm resin-matrix ceramic laminate veneers were (56.42±19.27) μm and (58.36±8.33) μm, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among the 4 groups (P>0.05). For glass-matrix ceramics, the flexural strength was (327.40±54.25) MPa, the flexural modulus was (44.40±4.39) GPa, and the modulus of resilience was (1.24±0.37) MPa. For resin-matrix ceramics, the flexural strength was (173.71±16.61) MPa, the flexural modulus was (11.88±0.51) GPa, and the modulus of resilience was (1.29±0.27) MPa. The flexural strength and modulus of glass-matrix ceramics were significantly higher than those of resin-matrix ceramics (P < 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference in the modulus of resilience between the two materials (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The marginal roughness of CAD/CAM glass-matrix ceramic laminate veneers is greater than that of resin-matrix ceramic laminate veneers, but there was no statistically significant difference in marginal fitness among them. Increasing the thickness can reduce the marginal roughness of glass-matrix ceramic laminate veneers, but has no effect on the marginal roughness of resin-matrix ceramic laminate veneers.
Ceramics ; Computer-Aided Design ; Dental Porcelain ; Dental Veneers ; Materials Testing ; Surface Properties

Background::Post-operative acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common and serious complications after major surgery and is significantly associated with increased risks of morbidity and mortality. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of perioperative dexmedetomidine (Dex) administration on the occurrence of AKI and the outcomes of recovery after non-cardiac surgery.Methods::The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for studies comparing the effects of Dex vs. placebo on kidney function after non-cardiac surgery, and a pooled fixed-effect meta-analysis of the included studies was performed. The primary outcome was the occurence of post-operative AKI. The secondary outcomes included the occurence of intra-operative hypotension and bradycardia, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, duration of ICU stay, and hospital length of stay (LOS). Results::Six studies, including four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two observational studies, with a total of 2586 patients were selected. Compared with placebo, Dex administration could not reduce the odds of post-operative AKI (odds ratio [OR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.18-1.06; P= 0.07; I2= 0.00%, P= 0.72) in RCTs, but it showed a significant renoprotective effect (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.95; P = 0.02; I2 = 0.00%, P = 0.36) in observational studies. Besides, Dex administration significantly increased the odds of intra-operative bradycardia and shortened the duration of ICU stay. However, there was no significant difference in the odds of intra-operative hypotension, ICU admission, and hospital LOS. Conclusions::This meta-analysis suggests that perioperative Dex administration does not reduce the risk of AKI after non-cardiac surgery. However, the quality of evidence for this result is low due to imprecision and inconsistent types of non-cardiac operations. Thus, large and high-quality RCTs are needed to verify the real effects of perioperative Dex administration on the occurrence of AKI and the outcomes of recovery after non-cardiac surgery.

Background: Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common pathogen of felids, and FCV vaccination is regularly practiced. The genetic variability and antigenic diversity of FCV hinder the effective control and prevention of infection by vaccination. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics of FCV should assist in the development of more effective vaccines. Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of FCV in a population of cats with FCV-suspected clinical signs in Hangzhou and to demonstrate the antigenic and genetic relationships between vaccine status and representative isolated FCV strains. Methods: Cats (n = 516) from Hangzhou were investigated between 2018 and 2020. The association between risk factors and FCV infection was assessed. Phylogenetic analyses based on a capsid coding sequence were performed to identify the genetic relationships between strains. In vitro virus neutralization tests were used to assess antibody levels against isolated FCV strains in client-owned cats. Results: The FCV-positive rate of the examined cats was 43.0%. Risk factors significantly associated with FCV infection were vaccination status and oral symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a radial phylogeny with no evidence of temporal or countrywide clusters. There was a significant difference in the distribution of serum antibody titers between vaccinated and unvaccinated cats. Conclusions This study revealed a high prevalence and genetic diversity of FCV in Hangzhou. The results indicate that the efficacy of FCV vaccination is unsatisfactory. More comprehensive and refined vaccination protocols are an urgent and unmet need.

Background: Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common pathogen of felids, and FCV vaccination is regularly practiced. The genetic variability and antigenic diversity of FCV hinder the effective control and prevention of infection by vaccination. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics of FCV should assist in the development of more effective vaccines. Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of FCV in a population of cats with FCV-suspected clinical signs in Hangzhou and to demonstrate the antigenic and genetic relationships between vaccine status and representative isolated FCV strains. Methods: Cats (n = 516) from Hangzhou were investigated between 2018 and 2020. The association between risk factors and FCV infection was assessed. Phylogenetic analyses based on a capsid coding sequence were performed to identify the genetic relationships between strains. In vitro virus neutralization tests were used to assess antibody levels against isolated FCV strains in client-owned cats. Results: The FCV-positive rate of the examined cats was 43.0%. Risk factors significantly associated with FCV infection were vaccination status and oral symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a radial phylogeny with no evidence of temporal or countrywide clusters. There was a significant difference in the distribution of serum antibody titers between vaccinated and unvaccinated cats. Conclusions This study revealed a high prevalence and genetic diversity of FCV in Hangzhou. The results indicate that the efficacy of FCV vaccination is unsatisfactory. More comprehensive and refined vaccination protocols are an urgent and unmet need.