Objective:To investigate the value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and 18F-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-1007 in the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by using PET/MR imaging. Methods:From June 2019 to December 2022, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 134 patients ((65.5±10.0) years) with prostate diseases who underwent 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/MR whole-body examination at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level continuously rising to >4μg/L within 1 month and not yet receiving treatment. Patients were divided into 2 groups (PSA<10μg/L and PSA≥10μg/L). The PET/MR examination included high b-value diffusion imaging, and the ROI was delineated based on the prostate diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) high-signal area and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) low-signal area by the professional radiology physician. The SUV max, mean kurtosis (MK), and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained. Spearman rank correlation analysis was performed, and ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy. Results:Of 134 patients, 72 were with PSA<10μg/L and 62 were with PSA≥10μg/L. There were 68 patients who obtained biopsy results, including 37 cases of BPH and 31 cases of PCa. In PSA<10μg/L group, there were no significant correlations between MK and SUV max, MK and PSA ( rs values: 0.22, 0.06, P values: 0.065, 0.603). In the PSA≥10μg/L group, there were positive correlations between MK and SUV max, MK and PSA ( rs values: 0.52, 0.40, P values: 0.008, 0.005). In the PSA<10μg/L group, SUV max, MK, and MD showed no diagnostic value (AUCs: 0.44-0.67, all P>0.05), while the AUC for combined diagnosis using these three parameters was 0.78( P=0.008). In the PSA≥10μg/L group, the AUCs of SUV max, MK, and MD were 0.81( P=0.001), 0.84( P<0.001) and 0.72( P=0.023) respectively, and the AUC for combined diagnosis using these three parameters was 0.91( P<0.001). Conclusion:The combination of MK, MD and SUV max improves the diagnostic efficacy of PCa in PET/MR examination.

Objective:To investigate the value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and 18F-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-1007 in the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by using PET/MR imaging. Methods:From June 2019 to December 2022, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 134 patients ((65.5±10.0) years) with prostate diseases who underwent 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/MR whole-body examination at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level continuously rising to >4μg/L within 1 month and not yet receiving treatment. Patients were divided into 2 groups (PSA<10μg/L and PSA≥10μg/L). The PET/MR examination included high b-value diffusion imaging, and the ROI was delineated based on the prostate diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) high-signal area and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) low-signal area by the professional radiology physician. The SUV max, mean kurtosis (MK), and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained. Spearman rank correlation analysis was performed, and ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy. Results:Of 134 patients, 72 were with PSA<10μg/L and 62 were with PSA≥10μg/L. There were 68 patients who obtained biopsy results, including 37 cases of BPH and 31 cases of PCa. In PSA<10μg/L group, there were no significant correlations between MK and SUV max, MK and PSA ( rs values: 0.22, 0.06, P values: 0.065, 0.603). In the PSA≥10μg/L group, there were positive correlations between MK and SUV max, MK and PSA ( rs values: 0.52, 0.40, P values: 0.008, 0.005). In the PSA<10μg/L group, SUV max, MK, and MD showed no diagnostic value (AUCs: 0.44-0.67, all P>0.05), while the AUC for combined diagnosis using these three parameters was 0.78( P=0.008). In the PSA≥10μg/L group, the AUCs of SUV max, MK, and MD were 0.81( P=0.001), 0.84( P<0.001) and 0.72( P=0.023) respectively, and the AUC for combined diagnosis using these three parameters was 0.91( P<0.001). Conclusion:The combination of MK, MD and SUV max improves the diagnostic efficacy of PCa in PET/MR examination.

Objective:To analyze the clinical value of 18F-FDG PET/MR for precise localization of epileptogenic foci in patients with refractory epilepsy. Methods:From February 2019 to December 2021, 81 patients (52 males, 29 females; age (30.0±10.9) years) with refractory epilepsy confirmed in Ruijin Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent preoperative PET/MR exam, and the possible position of the epileptogenic foci were determined by PET/MR imaging and pre-surgical evaluation, then the stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes were implanted. Surgery was performed, and outcome was assessed by using a modified Engel classification two years after surgery. χ2 test was used to compare the detection rates of MRI and PET/MR fusion imaging in localizing epileptogenic foci and the detection rates of epileptogenic foci in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE) by PET/MR. Results:MRI correctly localized seizure foci in 38 patients, with the detection rate of 46.91%(38/81), while PET/MR detected seizure foci in 73 patients, with the detection rate of 90.12%(73/81; χ2=35.05, P<0.001). There were 63 TLE and 18 ETLE patients. The detection rate of PET/MR in localizing seizure foci in TLE patients was 95.24%(60/63), which was significantly higher than that in ETLE patients (13/18; χ2=5.94, P=0.015). After 2 years follow-up, the postoperative efficacy rate of TLE patients with Engel grades Ⅰ-Ⅱ was 76.19%(48/63), which was 13/18 of ETLE patients ( χ2=0.12, P=0.731). Conclusion:Hybrid PET/MR imaging can accurately locate epileptogenic foci, especially for MRI negative lesions, which provides precision imaging information for surgical planning and improves surgical success rate.

Currently,human health due to corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been seriously threatened.The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)spike(S)protein plays a crucial role in virus transmission and several S-based therapeutic approaches have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.However,the efficacy is compromised by the SARS-CoV-2 evolvement and mutation.Here we report the SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)inhibitor licorice-saponin A3(A3)could widely inhibit RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants,including Beta,Delta,and Omicron BA.1,XBB and BQ1.1.Furthermore,A3 could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Vero E6 cells,with EC50 of 1.016 pM.The mechanism was related to binding with Y453 of RBD deter-mined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry(HDX-MS)analysis combined with quan-tum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)simulations.Interestingly,phosphoproteomics analysis and multi fluorescent immunohistochemistry(mIHC)respectively indicated that A3 also inhibits host inflammation by directly modulating the JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)path-ways and rebalancing the corresponding immune dysregulation.This work supports A3 as a promising broad-spectrum small molecule drug candidate for COVID-19.

Objective:To explore the added value of T 1-weighted stack-of-stars volumetric interpolated body examination (StarVIBE) sequence on PET/MR image quality. Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 60 patients (42 males, 18 females; age 11-86 (58±12) years) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/MR examination and with positive PET results in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from April 2020 to April 2021. All patients completed StarVIBE sequence collection, and volumetric interpolated body examination (VIBE) sequence was used as control. StarVIBE and VIBE sequence images were evaluated independently using five-point method by two physicians. The evaluation was carried out from six aspects: lesion display, lesion boundary display, vascular around lesions display, fusion level with PET image, image artifact and overall image quality. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the image quality of the two sequences, and Kappa test was performed to assess the consistency of the image quality scores between the two physicians. Results:There were 26 cases with cervical lesions, 14 cases with chest lesions, 7 cases with abdomen lesions and 13 cases with pelvic lesions. The scores of lesion display (4.0(3.8, 4.5) vs 3.5(3.0, 4.0)), lesion boundary display (4.0(4.0, 4.0) vs 3.0(3.0, 3.5)), vascular around lesions display (5.0(4.0, 5.0) vs 4.0(3.5, 4.5)), fusion level with PET image (5.0(5.0, 5.0) vs 4.5(4.0, 5.0)), image artifact (4.5(4.0, 5.0) vs 4.5(4.0, 5.0)) and overall image quality (5.0(4.0, 5.0) vs 4.0(4.0, 4.0)) of StarVIBE sequences were better than those of VIBE sequences ( z values: 3.77-6.54, all P<0.001). On the vascular around the lesions display, the scores of StarVIBE were significantly better than those of VIBE sequence in the neck (5.0(4.5, 5.0) vs 3.0(2.7, 3.5); z=4.49, P<0.001) and chest (4.5(4.3, 4.7) vs 4.0(3.6, 4.3); z=3.10, P=0.002). As for image quality, the scores of StarVIBE were also significantly better than those of VIBE in neck (5.0(4.5, 5.0) vs 4.0(3.7, 4.5); z=4.36, P<0.001) and chest (5.0(5.0, 5.0) vs 4.0(4.0, 4.5); z=3.02, P=0.003). In abdominal lesions, the score of StarVIBE was higher than that of VIBE in blood vessels (4.5(3.5, 5.0) vs 4.0(3.5, 4.5); z=2.07, P=0.038), and there was no difference between score of overall image quality (4.0(3.7, 4.5) vs 4.0(3.5, 4.5); z=0.27, P=0.785). The score of overall image quality of pelvic StarVIBE sequence was better than that of VIBE sequence (5.0(4.5, 5.0) vs 4.0(4.0, 4.5); z=2.12, P=0.034). Kappa value of image quality score between two physicians was 0.554, indicating moderate consistency. Conclusion:In whole-body PET/MR imaging, StarVIBE sequence can significantly improve the image quality of cervical, thoracic and pelvic lesions when comparing with VIBE sequence.

BACKGROUND: The SMARCA4 mutation has been shown to account for at least 10% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present, conventional radiotherapy and targeted therapy are difficult to improve outcomes due to the highly aggressive and refractory nature of SMARCA4-deficient NSCLC (SMARCA4-DNSCLC) and the absence of sensitive site mutations for targeted drug therapy, and chemotherapy combined with or without immunotherapy is the main treatment. Effective SMARCA4-DNSCLC therapeutic options, however, are still debatable. Our study aimed to investigate the efficacy and prognosis of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in combination with chemotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC. METHODS: 46 patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC were divided into two groups based on their treatment regimen: the chemotherapy group and the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy group, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Efficacy assessment and survival analysis were performed in both groups, and the influencing factors for prognosis were explored for patients with SMARCA4-DNSCLC. RESULTS: Male smokers are more likely to develop SMARCA4-DNSCLC. There was no significant difference in the objective response rate (76.5% vs 69.0%, P=0.836) between chemotherapy and the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy or the disease control rate (100.0% vs 89.7%, P=0.286). The one-year overall survival rate in the group with PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy was 62.7%, and that of the chemotherapy group was 46.0%. The difference in median progression-free survival (PFS) between the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy group and the chemotherapy group was statistically significant (9.3 mon vs 6.1 mon, P=0.048). The results of Cox regression analysis showed that treatment regimen and smoking history were independent influencing factors of PFS in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC, and family history was an individual influencing factor of overall survival in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC. CONCLUSIONS Treatment regimen may be a prognostic factor for patients with SMARCA4-DNSCLC, and patients with PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy may have a better prognosis.
Humans ; Male ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics* ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/therapeutic use* ; Prognosis ; DNA Helicases/genetics* ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Transcription Factors/genetics*

Objective Comprehensive mortality risk analyses and therapeutic assessment in real-world practice are beneficial to guide individual treatment in patients with Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections(CRKP-BSI).Methods Retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics of 81 CRKP-BSI patients in our intensive care unit from July 2016 to June 2020,to indentify the risk factors of death and treatment effects of different antibiotic regimens.Results In 81 CRKP-BSI cases,the majority source were from abdominal and respiratory,accounting for 56.79%(46 cases)and 22.22%(18 cases),respectively.The 28-day mortality and hospitalization mortality of CRKP-BSI were 54.32%(44 cases)and 65.43%(53 cases).Multivariate regression analysis suggested that biliary tract disease before admission(P=0.026)and increased SOFA score at the onset of BSI(P=0.006)were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality.There was no statistically significant difference in 28-day mortality between the groups of antibiotic treatment based on tigecycline(44 cases)and polymyxin B(26 cases)[56.82%(25/44)vs.57.69%(15/26),P=0.943].Patients were evaluated based on their age(≤65 years vs.>65 years),gender,body mass index(≤25 kg/m2 vs.>25 kg/m2),and APACHEⅡ score(≤20 vs.>20),the use of renal replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation,there was no difference in the mortality among each subgroup.Conclusions Biliary tract disease before admission and SOFA score were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality.There was no significant difference outcomes between tigecycline-and polymyxin B-based therapy.

It is an urgent demand worldwide to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. The 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL^pro) and papain-like protease (PL^pro) are key targets to discover SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. After screening 12 Chinese herbal medicines and 125 compounds from licorice, we found that a popular natural product schaftoside inhibited 3CL^pro and PL^pro with IC₅₀ values of 1.73 ± 0.22 and 3.91 ± 0.19 μmol/L, respectively, and inhibited SARS-CoV-2 virus in Vero E6 cells with EC₅₀ of 11.83 ± 3.23 μmol/L. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analysis, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations, together with site-directed mutagenesis indicated the antiviral activities of schaftoside were related with non-covalent interactions with H41, G143 and R188 of 3CL^pro, and K157, E167 and A246 of PL^pro. Moreover, proteomics analysis and cytokine assay revealed that schaftoside also regulated immune response and inflammation of the host cells. The anti-inflammatory activities of schaftoside were confirmed on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury mice. Schaftoside showed good safety and pharmacokinetic property, and could be a promising drug candidate for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic and grading value of combination of 68Ga -1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid- D-Phe1-Tyr3-Thr8-octreotide ( 68Ga-DOTA-TATE) and 18F-flurodeoxyglucose ( 18F-FDG) dual probes in multi-parameter positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (PNEN). Methods:From April 9th, 2020 to February 24th, 2022, in Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the clinical data and the imaging of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE PET/MR and 18F-FDG PET/MR of 59 patients with pancreatic tumors (27 male, 32 female, aged 22 to 75 years old(51.8±13.3) years old), confirmed by surgical or biopsy pathology were retrospectively analyzed. All the cases were divided into PNEN group (42 cases) and non-PNEN group (17 cases) according to pathological results. Among which 39 patients with PNET were further divided into grade 1 group (G1 group, 27 cases) and grade 2 group (G2 group, 12 cases). Non-zero parameters were selected via the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression approach, and a logistic regression model was established by combination of the selected features and the corresponding non-zero coefficients. The measurement data with non-normal distribution were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to detemine the optimal cut off value to assess the dignostic efficiency. Results:Compared with those of non-PNEN group, the parameters of PNEN group increased, which included maximum standard uptake value of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE(SUV Gmax, 46.70 (22.37, 76.35) vs. 7.12 (4.75, 8.64)), mean standard uptake value of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE(SUV Gmean, 25.50 (13.18, 43.90) vs. 3.65 (2.89, 4.69)), peak standard uptake value of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE (SUV Gpeak, 27.17 (12.39, 46.97) vs. 5.46 (4.12, 6.56)), total lesion somatostatin receptor (SSR) expression (TLSRE, 68.21 (32.52, 440.96) vs. 26.02 (14.87, 69.57)), SUV Gmax/maximum standard uptake value of 18F-FDG (SUV Fmax, 12.71 (3.80, 21.70) vs. 1.10 (0.52, 2.35)), tumor to background ratio of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE (TBR G, 13.31 (5.54, 22.38) vs. 1.57 (1.31, 2.66)), tumor to liver ratio of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE(T/L G, 6.54 (2.90, 9.63) vs. 0.74 (0.65, 0.94)), tumor to spleen ratio of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE (T/S G, 2.36 (0.97, 3.70) vs. 0.25 (0.23, 0.38)), tumor to mediastinum ratio of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE (T/M G, 104.41 (34.03, 206.52) vs. 16.00 (12.87, 21.46)), SUV Gmax/minimum apparent diffusion coeffecient (ADC min, 55.14 (22.50, 96.37) vs. 6.76 (4.39, 12.76)) and SUV Gmean/ADC min (34.57 (13.47, 55.13) vs. 3.57 (2.46, 6.81)), and the differences were statistically significant ( U=28.00, 25.00, 32.00, 198.00, 54.00, 31.00, 28.00, 19.00, 10.00, 56.00 and 44.00, all P<0.01). The area under the curve (AUC) and diagnostic accuracy of dual-probe PET/MR imaging in the diagnosis of PNEN and non-PNEN were 0.941 and 96.6%, respectively. The AUC and diagnostic accuracy of model Y 1 in the diagnosis of PNEN and non-PNEN were 0.959 and 96.6%, respectively. There was no significant difference in AUC between model Y 1 and dual-probe PET/MR imaging in PNEN diagnosis ( P>0.05), however combining model Y 1 could improve the accuracy of PNEN diagnosis (100.0%). Compared with those of PNET G1 group, the parameters of G2 Group were higher, which included the maximum diameter of tumor (2.69 cm (2.08 cm, 5.00 cm) vs. 1.50 cm (1.20 cm, 2.50 cm)), metabolic tumor volume (MTV, 7.56 mL (4.45 mL, 53.57 mL) vs. 2.16 mL (1.22 mL, 5.48 mL)), total lesion glycolysis (TLG, 22.24 (11.95, 189.85) vs. 3.81 (2.11, 18.67)), tumor to background ratio of 18F-FDG (TBR F, 2.94 (2.00, 3.96) vs. 1.48 (1.29, 3.72)), tumor to liver ratio of 18F-FDG (T/L F, 2.32 (1.35, 2.98) vs. 1.08 (0.90, 2.17)) and SSR-expressing tumor volume (SRETV, 8.00 (3.06, 40.00) vs. 1.91 (0.95, 4.88)), and the differences were statistically significant ( U=66.00、66.00、77.00、93.00、90.00、65.50, all P<0.05). The maximum diameter of tumor was the best single parameter for the differential diagnosis of PNET G2 and G1, AUC was 0.796 and the cutoff value was 1.90 cm. The model Y 2, which combined the maximum diameter of tumor and TBR G had an AUC of 0.835 for the differential diagnosis of PNET G2 and G1. There was no significant difference in AUC between the maximum diameter of tumor and model Y 2 ( P>0.05). However the combination of the maximum diameter of tumor and model Y 2 could improve the accuracy of differential diagnosis of PNET G2 and G1 (94.87%). Conclusion:The combination of multi-parameter of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE and dual-probe 18F-FDG PET/MR imaging can improve the diagnostic and grading accuracy of PNEN, which may be helpful in the selection of clinical treatment for patients.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/MR imaging for liver metastasis. Methods:A retrospective analysis of 75 cases (46 males, 29 females; age (58.9±14.3) years) with suspected liver metastases from January 2020 to October 2020 in Ruijin Hospital were performed. All patients underwent PET/MR and enhanced upper abdominal CT scans. Diagnostic efficacies of enhanced CT, PET, MR and PET/MR for liver metastases (based on lesions and patients respectively) were calculated and compared (McNemar test).Results:A total of 306 liver lesions were detected in 75 patients, of which 179 lesions in 45 patients were confirmed as liver metastases through follow-up or pathology. In lesion-based analysis, the sensitivities of enhanced CT, PET, MR and PET/MR were 74.9%(134/179), 60.3%(108/179), 98.9%(177/179) and 100%(179/179), with specificities of 96.9%(123/127), 100%(127/127), 92.9%(118/127) and 92.1%(117/127), respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of PET/MR was significantly higher than that of enhanced CT and PET ( χ2 values: 51.000 and 81.000, both P<0.001), but there was no statistical difference between PET/MR and MR ( χ2=2.000, P=0.368). In patient-based analysis, the sensitivities of enhanced CT, PET, MR and PET/MR were 82.2%(37/45), 84.4%(38/45), 95.6%(43/45) and 100%(45/45), with specificities of 86.7%(26/30), 100%(30/30), 70.0%(21/30) and 70.0%(21/30), respectively. The diagnostic efficacies of enhanced CT and PET were statistically different from PET/MR ( χ2 values: 13.000 and 16.000, both P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference between MR and PET/MR ( χ2=2.000, P=0.368). Conclusions:Compared with enhanced CT, PET and MR, 18F-FDG PET/MR has a higher detective rate for liver metastases. The overall diagnostic efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/MR is better than enhanced CT and PET alone, but similar to MR.