Objective To investigate the diagnosis value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver with ≤3 cm of maximum diameter. Methods The image characteristics in 48 lesions of HCC with maximum diameter≤3 cm and 48 lesions of FNH with maximum diameter≤3 cm confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed. The phase changes, enhancement patterns and enhancement characteristics of the lesions in the two groups were compared. Results All lesions in the two groups showed high-echo in the arterial phase. The contrast arrival time in HCC group and FNH group was 17(15, 19) s and 15(12, 18.75) s (P＝0.017); the peak time in the two groups was 21(17, 25) s and 22(19, 26) s (P＞0.05). The main enhancement patterns of HCC group and FNH group in arterial phase were homogeneous enhancement and centrifugal enhancement, respectively. All HCC lesions showed homogeneous enhancement, which was significantly higher than FNH (2.08%, P＜0.05); 97.91% of FHN lesions showed centrifugal enhancement, which was higher that of HCC lesions (0, P＜0.05). During the CEUS process, 87.5% of HCC lesions showed “rapid fill-in and rapid wash-out”, which was significantly higher than that of FNH lesions（8.33%，P＜0.05）; 91.67% of FNH lesions showed “rapid fill-in” and “synchronous/slow wash-out” which was significantly higher than that of HCC lesions （12.50%，P＜0.05）. Conclusion CEUS is helpful in the differential diagnosis of FNH and HCC with maximum diameter≤3 cm．

Objective:To explore the characteristics of gray matter volume (GMV) and structural covariant network (SCN) in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) related cognitive impairment.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Ninety-eight patients with CSVD who attended Wuxi People′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between October 2021 and December 2022 were prospectively included. The patients were evaluated using the cognitive status assessment scale and were categorized into 57 cases in the CSVD with cognitive impairment group and 41 cases in the CSVD without cognitive impairment group according to the presence or absence of cognitive impairment. 3D-T 1WI structural image data were collected, and GMV differences between the two groups were compared by SPM 12 toolbox and CAT12 toolkit. At the same time, Pearson correlation analysis was also performed to analyze the GMV of differences between the 2 groups and cognitive status assessment scale scores. The BCT software package based on MATLAB platform was used to construct the GMV-related structural covariant network (SCN), and the graph theory method was utilized for SCN analysis to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) of the global and local parameters within the set sparsity range, and the permutation test was used to compare the differences in the AUC of the 2 groups. Results:In the CSVD with cognitive impairment group, GMV in bilateral hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and left amygdala was significantly lower than that in the CSVD without cognitive impairment group (family wise error corrected P<0.05), and the GMV in these regions had correlation with cognitive status assessment scale ( P<0.05). At the global network level of the SCN, the area under the curve (AUC) of the characteristic path length was significantly higher in the CSVD with cognitive impairment group than in the CSVD without cognitive impairment group ( P=0.023), while the AUC of global efficiency was significantly lower in CSVD with cognitive impairment group than in the CSVD without cognitive impairment group ( P=0.005). At the local level, the nodal degree and nodal efficiency of the left putamen were significantly decreased in the CSVD with cognitive impairment group compared to the CSVD without cognitive impairment group (false discovery rate corrected P<0.05). Conclusions:GMV reduce in patients of CSVD with cognitive impairment in the bilateral hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and left amygdala. In the structural covariance network, characteristic path length increase while global efficiency reduce, and node degree and nodal efficiency of the left putamen reduce.

Objective To explore the effectiveness of high-definition diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)sequence combined with T1 WI-fat suppression(FS)dynamic contrast enhancement(DCE)sequence for preoperative T-stage of rectal cancer by using 3.0T MRI standardized scanning.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on MRI images of 57 patients with rectal cancer confirmed by pathology.Before surgery,the patients underwent 3.0T MRI standardized rectal cancer scan methods,including routine sequence,high-definition DWI sequence,and T1 WI-FS DCE sequence,etc.Then two experienced physicians evaluated the T-stage of preoperative rectal cancer through high-definition DWI(transverse and sagittal sections)and T1 WI-FS DCE sequences in the double-blind method.Using the postoperative pathological results of rectal cancer as the"gold standard",two sequences were combined to evaluate the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity of rectal cancer T-stage.Results Among the 57 cases,there were 9 cases of upper rectal cancer,39 cases of middle rectal cancer,and 9 cases of lower rectal cancer.The accuracy rates of preoperative T-stage diagnosis for rectal cancer by two evaluator were both 85.7％(6/7)in T1 stage,88.2％(15/17)and 94.1％(16/17)in T2 stage,96.9％(31/32)and 93.8％(30/32)in T3 stage,and both 100.0％(1/1)in T4 stage.For evaluator 1,the sensitivity and specificity of the rectal cancer T-stage diagnosis were 96.1％and 83.3％,and for evaluator 2 were 94.1％and 83.3％,respectively.For rectal cancer MRI diagnosis,the accuracy rates and sensitivity were higher when combining the high-definition DWI sequence and T1 WI-FS DCE sequence,compared with a single high-definition DWI sequence or T1 WI-FS DCE sequence,and the difference was statistically significant.The average preoperative apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)value of rectal cancer was compared between the corresponding postoperative pathological T1 to T4 stage groups,and the difference was statistically significant.Conclusion The combination of high-definition DWI sequence and T1 WI-FS DCE sequence improves the accuracy of rectal cancer T-stage,providing assistance for personalized clinical treatment.

Objective To explore the changes of resting-state degree centrality(DC)in elderly patients with chronic insomnia disorder(CID).Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)data were collected from 26 untreated elderly patients with CID(CID group)and 45 healthy controls(HC)(HC group).Two-sample t-test was conducted to compare the intergroup differences in whole-brain DC values,and the correlation between DC values in different brain regions and clinical indicators were analyzed,and logistic regression analysis was performed to verify the diagnostic efficacy of changes in DC values for elderly CID.Results Compared with the HC group,the DC values of the right insula,left rolandic operculum,and opercular part of right inferior frontal gyrus in the elderly CID group decreased[P＜0.05,false discovery rate(FDR)corrected],while the DC values of the right middle frontal gyrus increased(P＜0.05,FDR corrected).And the DC values of the opercular part of right inferior frontal gyrus in the elderly CID group were positively correlated with sleep efficiency(r=0.504,P=0.009)and self-rating depression scale(SDS)(r=0.401,P=0.042),respectively.The sensitivity of DC value in the opercular part of right inferior frontal gyrus for diagnosing elderly CID was 0.822,the specificity was 0.615,and the accuracy was 0.701.Conclusion Elderly CID patients have abnormal DC values in the right insula,left rolandic operculum,opercular part of right inferior frontal gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus,which may provide imaging evidence for exploring the pathogenesis of CID and clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To observe the expression of angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) signaling pathway in adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) rat model, and to explore the role of this pathway in renal fibrosis.Methods:Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (saline, intragastric administration, n=15) and CKD group (250 mg·kg -1·d -1 2.5% adenine, intragastric administration, n=21). At the end of the 1st, 2nd and 4th week, 5 rats were randomly selected from each group. Renal function and 24-hour urinary protein quantity were measured. HE and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes of kidneys. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to detect renal protein and mRNA expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), ANGPTL4, bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), Smad1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type Ⅰ collagen (Col-Ⅰ). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the different indicators. Results:(1) Compared with the control group, the expression levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in CKD group were higher at each time point, and the expression levels of 24-hour urinary protein quantity were higher at the end of the 2nd and 4th week (all P < 0.05). (2) HE and Masson staining showed that there were obvious renal structural disorders and collagen fiber deposition at each time point in CKD group compared with the control group, which got worse with time. (3) The results of immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR showed that compared with the control group, the protein and mRNA expression levels of ANGPTL4, α-SMA and Col-Ⅰ were higher, while the protein and mRNA expression levels of BMP7 and Smad1 were lower at the end of the 1st, 2nd and 4th week, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α were higher at the end of 2nd and 4th week in CKD group (all P < 0.05). (4) Correlation analysis results showed that HIF-1α and ANGPTL4 mRNA expression were positively correlated with α-SMA mRNA ( r=0.919, P < 0.001; r=0.757, P < 0.001), and also positively correlated with Col-Ⅰ mRNA ( r=0.925, P < 0.001; r=0.777, P < 0.001). HIF-1α mRNA expression was positively correlated with ANGPTL4 mRNA ( r=0.766, P < 0.001). There were significant negative correlations between HIF-1α, ANGPTL4 mRNA and BMP7 mRNA ( r=-0.652, P < 0.001; r=-0.741, P < 0.001). Conclusions:ANGPTL4 signaling pathway may be activated in adenine-induced CKD rat model, and involved in the renal fibrosis process of CKD.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of low-dose biphasic (inspiratory and expiratory) CT air trapping sign and semi-quantitative score in predicting abnormal blood gas parameters and progression to severe disease in COVID-19 patients.Methods:Patients with non-severe COVID-19 who were diagnosed by nucleic acid testing and hospitalized in designated hospitals in Wuxi City from January 23 to February 29, 2020 were prospectively and consecutively recruited. All patients received low-dose biphasic CT examination on admission and repeated CT examination at regular intervals during the course. On the inspiratory phase admission of the bipolar CT, the scope of the lesion was evaluated by semi-quantitative score, and the air trapping sign on bipolar CT was assessed. The differences of semi-quantitative score, the presence of the air trapping sign and other clinical factors were compared between the patients with abnormal and the normal blood gas index, as well as between the cases progressed to severe disease and cases without disease progression using the independent sample t-test or χ 2 test. The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and the comprehensive discriminant improvement index (IDI) were used to evaluate the predictive effectiveness of the semi-quantitative scores, air trapping sign, and combination of two factors in differentiating cases with abnormal and normal blood gas indexes, as well as in differentiating cases with and without disease progression to severe COVID-19 cases. Results:In total 51 non-severe COVID-19 cases were included, with 16 cases showed air trapping sign during the first biphasic CT examination on admission. During the course of the disease, there were 13 patients with abnormal blood gas index, and 9 cases displaying air trapping sign (9/13). All 7 cases with progression to severe cases showed air trapping sign (7/7). Patients with advanced age, air trapping sign and higher semi-quantitative score were found more likely to have abnormal blood gas index ( t=3.10, χ 2=9.38, t=3.34, P<0.05); patients with advanced age, underlying diseases, air trapping sign and higher semi-quantitative score were more likely to develop into severe disease ( t=2.68, χ 2=6.65, χ 2=4.25, t=4.33, P<0.05). The AUC of semi-quantitative score, air trapping sign and combination of two factors in distinguishing abnormal blood gas index from normal blood gas index was 0.803, 0.754 and 0.794 respectively. The AUC of semi-quantitative score, air trapping sign and combination of two factors in distinguishing cases with progression to severe cases from non-progression was 0.881, 0.898 and 0.932, respectively. Air trapping sign combined with semi-quantitative score significantly improved the prediction effectiveness of disease progression, compared with semi-quantitative score or air trapping sign (IDI=0.271, 0.117). Conclusion:Air trapping sign and semi-quantitative score might be used as effective indicators to predict the progression of COVID-19 cases, and the combination of these two factors might be more helpful to predict the disease progression.

At present, there has been no report in China that novel coronavirus specific immune globulin has been used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recently, we had successfully treated one COVID-19 patient with intravenous injection of human immunoglobulin (COVID-19-IVIG). The female patient, aged 57 years, had clinical diagnosis: (1) COVID-19, common type; (2) postoperative colon cancer; (3) leukopenia; (4) low cellular immunity. 75 mL COVID-19 human immunoglobulin (Sinoptic Wuhan Blood Products Co., Ltd.) was intravenously injected twice. The patient was hospitalized for 49 days and had a good prognosis.

Objective: To understand changes of physical fitness, among college freshmen in one college in Xi an from 2005 to 2018. Methods: Body mass index (BMI), vital lung capacity and cardiorespiratory endurance test data from 47 047 freshmen from 2005 to 2018 were included and analyzed. BMI, vital lung capacity, and cardiorespiratory endurance were classified according to the National Student Physical Fitness and Health Standard. Descriptive statistics, t test was used in the data analysis. Results: Mean BMI, vital lung capacity and cardiorespiratory endurance for male and female were (21.69±3.26) (20.88±2.65) kg/m 2, (4 189.87±788.57) (2 815.06±572.07) mL, (246.17±24.09) (239.97±20.23) s, respectively, all of which had significant statistical differences (t=29.48, 218.87, 28.70, P<0.05). Physical fitness indicators showed significant differences over the years (F=104.82, 185.43, 40 891.99, P<0.05). Mean BMI and vital lung capacity in male and female freshmen showed nonlinear increase trend across the past 14 years, while endurance showed a "V"shaped change with a significant inflection point in the year of 2009. Conclusion From 2005 to 2018, BMI and vital lung capacity showed an upward trend, and cardiorespiratory endurance quality continued to decline since 2009 among college freshmen.

Objective    To study the clinical characteristics of overseas imported and related local COVID-19 patients in Chengdu. Methods    Fifty overseas imported patients who were Chinese and 14 related local patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from November to December 2020 were selected. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, treatment and prognosis were summarized and analyzed. Results    The local group were older, and they were mostly elderly and females (P≤0.05). Compared with the imported group, the proportion of the local group was higher in heart disease and tumor. More patients had cough, fever and expectoration symptoms (P≤0.05). C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose and fibrinogen were higher, and the lymphocyte count, blood platelet count, CD3+ T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, CD8+ T lymphocyte count were lower. The positive rate of novel coronavirus total antibody, IgG antibody and IgM antibody in the imported group were higher than those in the local group (P≤0.05). The negative conversion time of the median nucleic acid was shorter than that of local patients (P≤0.05). Conclusion    There are differences in sex ratio, age, complications, clinical manifestations, lymphocyte measurement value, T lymphocyte count and negative conversion time of nucleic acid between overseas imported and local COVID-19 patients in Chengdu. The local patients are mostly elderly and have more complicated conditions, but all of them have good prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Traditional toxicological studies focus on individual compounds. However, this single-compound approach neglects the fact that the mixture exposed to human may act additively or synergistically to induce greater toxicity than the single compounds exposure due to their similarities in the mode of action and targets. Mixture effects can occur even when all mixture components are present at levels that individually do not produce observable effects. So the individual chemical effect thresholds do not necessarily protect against combination effects, an understanding of the rules governing the interactive effects in mixtures is needed. The aim of the study was to test and analyze the individual and combined estrogenic effects of a mixture of three endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) in immature rats with mathematical models. METHOD: In the present study, the data of individual estrogenic effects of BPA, NP and DES were obtained in uterotrophic bioassay respectively, the reference points for BPA, NP and DES were derived from the dose-response ralationship by using the traditional no observed adverse effect (NOAEL) or lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) methods, and the benchmark dose (BMD) method. Then LOAEL values and the benchmark dose lower confidence limit (BMDL) of single EDCs as the dose design basis for the study of the combined action pattern. Mixed prediction models, the 3 × 2 factorial design model and the concentration addition (CA) model, were employed to analyze the combined estrogenic effect of the three EDCs. RESULTS: From the dose-response relationship of estrogenic effects of BPA, NP and DES in the model of the prepuberty rats, the BMDL(NOAEL) of the estrogenic effects of BPA, NP and DES were 90(120) mg/kg body weight, 6 mg/kg body weight and 0.10(0.25) μg/kg body weight, and the LOAEL of the the estrogenic effects of three EDCs were 240 mg/kg body weight, 15 mg/kg body weight and 0.50 μg/kg body weight, respectively. At BMDL doses based on the CA concept and the factorial analysis, the mode of combined effects of the three EDCs were dose addition. Mixtures in LOAEL doses, NP and DES combined effects on rat uterine/body weight ratio indicates antagonistic based on the CA concept but additive based on the factorial analysis. Combined effects of other mixtures are all additive by using the two models. CONCLUSION Our results showed that CA model provide more accurate results than the factorial analysis, the mode of combined effects of the three EDCs were dose addition, except mixtures in LOAEL doses, NP and DES combined effects indicates antagonistic effects based on the CA model but additive based on the factorial analysis. In particular, BPA and NP produced combination effects that are larger than the effect of each mixture component applied separately at BMDL doses, which show that additivity is important in the assessment of chemicals with estrogenic effects. The use of BMDL as point of departure in risk assessment may lead to underestimation of risk, and a more balanced approach should be considered in risk assessment.
Animals ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; toxicity ; Diethylstilbestrol ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Interactions ; Endocrine Disruptors ; toxicity ; Estrogens ; toxicity ; Models, Theoretical ; Phenols ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Risk Assessment