Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

AIM To study the secondary metabolites from the endophytic fungi Candida sp.of Berberis atrocarpa Schneid.METHODS The ethyl acetate fraction and petroleum ether fraction from the secondary metabolites of Candida sp.fermentation extract were separated and purified by silica gel,Sephadex LH-20 and preparative liquid chromatography,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Eighteen compounds were isolated and identified as 1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol(1),4-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol(2),4-hydroxybenzoic acid(3),4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid(4),3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid(5),3-methylsulfinyl propionic acid(6),phenylacetic acid(7),(S)-N-nitroso-1-amino-p-hydroxy phenylethanol(8),2-phenylacetamide(9),p-hydroxybenzaldehyde(10),ethyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetate(11),dibutyl phthalate(12),5,5'-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2'-diol(13),3-indolealdehyde(14),N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine(15),9-hydroxy-10E,12Z-octadecadienoic acid(16),9-hydroxy-10E,12E-octadecadienoic acid(17),(6E)-5-methylene-6-tetradecenoic acid(18).CONCLUSION Compounds 1,3-8 and 10-18 are isolated from Candida sp for the first time.

AIM To study the lignans and terpenoids from Alangium chinense(Lour.)Harms subsp.pauciflorum Fang.METHODS The 70%ethanol extract was isolated and purified by various column chromatography,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Twenty-four compounds were isolated and identified and identified as(+)-pinoresinol)(1),medioresinol(2),syringaresinol(3),dehydrodiconifery alcohol-9′-β-D-glucopyranoside(4),7,9,9′-trihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-8-O-4′-neolignan-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(5),citrusin B(6),dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosides(7),5-methoxy-(+)-isolariciresinol(8),rel-(7R,8S)-3,3′,5-trimethoxy-4′,7-epoxy-8,5′-neolignan-4,9,9′-triol-9-β-D-glucopyranoside(9),(+)-lyoniresinol-3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(10),longifloroside B(11),(7S,8R)-1-[4-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-methoxyphenyl]-2-[4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]-1,3-propanediol(12),(7R,8S)-4,9,9′-trihydroxyl-3-methoxyl-7,8-dihydrobenzofuran-1′-propylneolignan-3′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(13),(7S,8R)-4,9,9′-trihydroxy-3,3′,5-trimethoxy-8,4′-oxy-neolignan-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(14),cedrusin-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(15),2,6,2′,6′-tetramethoxy-4,4′-bis(2,3-epoxy-1-hydroxypropyl)biphenyl(16),3-oxo-11α,12α-epoxy-olean-28,13β-olide(17),mansonone E(18),mansonone G(19),mansonone H(20),roseoside(21),bullatantriol(22),3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl pomolic acid(23),Hederagenin(24).CONCLUSION Compounds 1-16 are lignans,and 17-24 are terpenoids.Compounds 3-9,11-17,22-24 are isolated from Alangium genus for the first time;compounds 1,2,10,18-21 are first isolated from this plant.

AIM:To investigate the mechanism of chronic stress-induced myocardial injury in atherosclerotic(AS)mice.METHODS:Eight-week-old SPF-grade male ApoE-/-mice and C57BL/6J mice used in this study.The mice received dietary intervention for 10 weeks followed by pathological examination to test the successful AS modeling.After AS establishment,the mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)for 6 weeks and then divided into five groups:control,CUMS,AS-regular diet(AS-r)+CUMS,AS-high-fat diet(AS-h),and AS-h+CUMS.During CUMS,open-field test and sucrose preference test were performed on mice in all groups.Blood lipids were characterized using an automatic biochemical analyzer.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and oil red O staining were performed to evaluate pathological changes in the aortic root.Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography.The serum concentration of myocardial injury markers and ATP content was detected by ELISA.Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the ul-trastructure of myocardial mitochondria.Myocardial mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate was determined using the Oxy-graph-2k high-resolution respiratory energy metabolism analyzer.Western blot was conducted to quantify the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),and cleaved caspase-3.RESULTS:compared with the Control group,the total distance traveled,the number of entries into the central area,and the sucrose preference rate were significantly decreased in all CUMS groups(P<0.05).All AS groups exhibited varying levels of lipid deposition and endo-thelial damage in the aortic root,along with a significant reduction in cardiac function(P<0.05)and varying degrees of myocardial injury(P<0.05).In the AS-h+CUMS and AS-r+CUMS groups,myocardial mitochondrial structure was signifi-cantly disrupted.ATP content was significantly reduced(P<0.05),and the rates of oxygen consumption associated with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I,mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I+II,and the maximum respiratory capacity of the electron transport system were all significantly decreased(P<0.05).Moreover,the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly increased(P<0.05),while that of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Chronic stress triggers mitochondrial non-steady-state load by disrupting myocardial structure and energy metabolism in AS mice,promoting myocardial cell apoptosis and myocardial injury.

Objective To observe the effects of modified Poge Jiuxin decoction combined with acupuncture in the treatment of septic cardiomyopathy(SIC),and explore its possible mechanism.Methods Totally 72 patients with SIC admitted to Chengdu First People's Hospital from January 2022 to June 2023 were enrolled.The patients were divided into control group and treatment group according to random number table method,with 36 cases in each group.Patients in control group received basic treatment for SIC.On this basis,the treatment group was administrated with modified Poge Jiuxin decoction[includes Prepared Aconite 30 g(earlier decocted),Red Ginseng 30 g(another stew),Cornel Meat 60 g,Dried Ginger 30 g,Raw Keel 30 g(earlier decocted),Raw Oyster 30 g(earlier decocted),Magnet 30 g(earlier decocted),Poria Cocos 90 g,Plantain Seeds 30 g(in bag),Roasted Licorice 60 g,Musk 0.5 g(artificial)],one dose a day,100 mL in 3 meals a day.Acupuncture at bilateral Zusanli,Guangyuan,Neiguan,Sanyinjiao and Qihai points,twice a day.Both groups were treated for 7 days.The changes of C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),cardiac tropomin I(cTnI),N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and lactic acid(Lac)were observed before and after treatment,acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)were calculated,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricle fractional shortening(LVFS),and mitral orifice early/late diastolic blood flow velocity ratio(E/A ratio)were measured with echocardiography,the heart rate(HR),mean arterial pressure(MAP),mechanical ventilation time,vasoactive drug use time,in the intensive care unit(ICU)stay time,the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)and 28-day mortality were recorded.Results After treatment,the indexes of inflammation(CRP,PCT),myocardial markers(cTnI,NT-proBNP),hemodynamics and perfusion(HR,Lac),illness severity score(APACHEⅡ,SOFA)and the 28-day mortality in the two groups were significantly reduced,while LVEF and MAP were significantly increased compared to before treatment.The improvement of various indexes in the treatment group were better than those in the control group[CRP(mg/L):22.18±9.46 vs.68.45±13.46,PCT(μg/L):1.16±0.59 vs.4.35±1.28,LVEF:0.48±0.06 vs.0.41±0.05,cTnI(μg/L):0.60±0.14 vs.0.98±0.30,NT-proBNP(ng/L):204.35±26.54 vs.240.12±56.12,HR(bmp):88.75±10.05 vs.98.57±10.56,MAP(mmHg,1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa):82.10±5.08 vs.73.46±3.55,Lac(mmol/L):0.75±0.28 vs.1.60±0.36,APACHEⅡscore:10.46±1.80 vs.15.50±2.16,SOFA score:2.60±1.24 vs.6.76±1.60,all P<0.05].After treatment,LVFS and E/A ratio in the two groups increased significantly compared to those before treatment,however,there was no significant difference between the treatment group and the control group after treatment[LVFS:(25.12±3.46)%vs.(22.61±3.88)%,E/A ratio:1.16±0.46 vs.0.96±0.32,both P>0.05].The vasoactive drug use time and ICU stay time were shortened in the treatment group than those in the control group[vasoactive drug use time(days):9.62±3.05 vs.10.48±3.40,ICU stay time(days):12.51±2.04 vs.13.72±1.14,both P<0.05],the incidence of MODS and the 28-day mortality were lower than those of the control group[38.89%(14/36)vs.52.77%(9/36),44.44%(16/36)vs.47.22%(17/36)],but there were no statistical differences(both P>0.05).Conclusion Modified Poge Jiuxin decoction combined with acupuncture can effectively improve the prognosis of patients with SIC,and its mechanism may be related to inhibition of inflammatory reaction and improvement of cardiac function.

Objective To investigate clinical characteristics and the risk factors of sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction(SIMD),and to provide evidence for the diagnosis,treatment and prevention of SIMD.Methods The clinical data of 284 patients with sepsis(≥18 years old)admitted to the department of critical care medicine of Chengdu Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine&Western Medicine Hospital/Chengdu First People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.This includes gender,age,chronic underlying diseases,the mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),laboratory test results,disease severity score,the proportion of requiring mechanical ventilation,vasoactive drugs treatment and renal replacement therapy,length of intensive care medicine(ICU)stay and the 28-day mortality.Patients were divided into SIMD group and non-SIMD group according to the occurrence of SIMD,allowing for an analysis of the clinical characteristics of two groups of patients.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors of SIMD,and receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC curve)were plotted to analyze the predictive value of each risk factor for the occurrence of SIMD.Results A total of 284 septic patients were included,including 136 cases(47.89％)in the SIMD group and 148 cases(52.11％)in the non-SIMD group.Compared with the non-SIMD group,the levels of age,N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),cardiac tropomin I(cTnI),lactic acid(Lac)at admission to ICU,the proportion of vasoactive drugs treatment,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)in the SIMD group were significantly higher than those in the non-SIMD group[age(years):75.92±2.35 vs.55.02±1.68,NT-proBNP(ng/L):3 037.00±544.50 vs.2 493.92±630.21,cTnI(μg/L):0.12±0.07 vs.0.06±0.03,Lac in ICU(mmol/L):4.46±1.21 vs.2.98±1.02,the proportion of vasoactive drugs treatment:40.44％(55/136)vs.21.62％(32/148),APACHEⅡ score:24.25±1.02 vs.20.95±0.85,SOFA score:7.41±4.69 vs.6.21±2.81,all P<0.05],but the 24-hour Lac clearance rate of the SIMD group was significantly lower than that of the non-SIMD group[(13.80±7.01)％vs.(25.41±8.90)％,P<0.05].Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥75 years,24-hour Lac clearance rate and NT-proBNP≥3 000 ng/L were the independent factors of SIMD in patients with sepsis[odds ratio(OR)and 95％confidence interval(95％CI)were 5.990(2.143-16.742),0.348(0.155-0.786)and 2.708(1.093-6.711),P values were 0.001,0.011 and 0.031].ROC curve analysis showed that age,24-hour Lac clearance rate,NT-proBNP had predictive value for the development of SIMD[area under the curve(AUC)were 0.637,0.811,0.743,95％CI were 0.573-0.701,0.761-0.860,0.687-0.800,all P<0.05].Conclusions SIMD occurs more frequently in patients with sepsis.Increased age,elevated NT-proBNP,and reduced 24-hour Lac clearance rate are independent risk factors of SIMD,warranting clinical attention.