1.The application value of deep learning image reconstruction algorithm in ultra-low dose abdominal CT scanning
Xing TANG ; Yuncheng LI ; Hongmin SHU ; Weishu HOU ; Jun WANG ; Xiaohu LI
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(4):758-762
ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility of various strength levels of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithms for improving non-contrast abdominal CT image quality at ultra-low radiation doses, by comparing ultra-low-dose DLIR images with low-dose filtered back projection (FBP) images. MethodsA prospective collection of 85 patients undergoing non-contrast abdominal CT scans was performed, and a self-controlled study method was employed to conduct low-dose (LD) group and ultra-low-dose (ULD) group scans. The LD group used a noise index of 10 and employed FBP for image reconstruction (LD-FBP group). The ULD group used a noise index of 30 and employed DLIR at different levels (low, medium, high), resulting in three subgroups of reconstructed images: ULD-DLIR-L, ULD-DLIR-M, and ULD-DLIR-H. For each group, CT values, standard devia-tion (SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured and calculated for the liver, spleen, kidneys, aorta, psoas major, and subcutaneous fat. Effective dose (ED) was also recorded. Two radiologists independently performed subjective evaluations of image quality using a 5-point scale. ResultsCompared with the LD-FBP group, the ULD-DLIR-L group showed significantly lower SNR and CNR values in the liver, spleen, kidneys, aorta, and psoas major (P<0.001), while the ULD-DLIR-H group exhibited significantly higher values (P<0.001). The difference of SNR and CNR values for the ULD-DLIR-M group showed no statistically significant difference. For subjective evaluation, the scores of the ULD-DLIR-L and ULD-DLIR-M groups were lower than those of the LD-FBP group, while there was no statistically significant difference in scores between the ULD-DLIR-H group and the LD-FBP group. The ED value of the ULD group was approximately 88% lower than that of the LD group. ConclusionCompared with the LD-FBP group, the ULD-DLIR-H group significantly reduces SD values while increasing SNR and CNR values, effectively improving the image quality of non-contrast abdominal CT scans.
2.The Impact of Pcdh15 Deficiency on Cellular Energy Metabolism and Oxidative Stress, and Its Role and Mechanism in Hearing Loss
Ying LAN ; Yang WU ; Shijie ZHAO ; Jun TANG ; Xingming LIANG ; Tao HOU ; Lu PENG ; Yongpeng LI ; Xinxing ZHAO ; Shihua YIN
Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology 2026;19(2):129-144
Objectives:
. This study aimed to explore the role of the Pcdh15 gene in hearing maintenance and to examine the effects of its deficiency on cochlear structure, cochlear function, and hearing loss in mice.
Methods:
. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to generate Pcdh15 knockout (KO) mice. Auditory function was evaluated using hearing tests, while histological approaches were employed to assess morphological changes in cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on cochlear tissue from postnatal day 18 (P18) wild-type (WT) and Pcdh15 KO mice to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These DEGs were subjected to functional annotation and pathway analysis, with particular emphasis on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were quantified using flow cytometry and DCFH-DA assays.
Results:
. Pcdh15 KO mice exhibited progressive sensorineural hearing loss, which worsened to profound deafness by P18. Notably, cochlear hair cells and SGNs showed substantial loss and pronounced morphological abnormalities, particularly within the basal high-frequency region. RNA-seq analysis identified 1,359 DEGs, including 1,024 downregulated and 335 upregulated genes. Pathway analysis indicated that Pcdh15 deficiency was associated with inhibition of the OXPHOS pathway, potentially disrupting mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, III, IV, and V and thereby impairing energy production and ATP metabolism. In addition, early-stage cochleae from KO mice demonstrated elevated ROS levels and increased oxidative stress, suggesting that redox imbalance may contribute to hearing damage.
Conclusion
. Pcdh15 plays a critical role in hearing maintenance. Its deficiency is associated with severe hearing loss and marked cochlear abnormalities, which are linked to inhibition of OXPHOS, disruption of energy metabolism, and exacerbation of oxidative stress. Together, these findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying hearing loss and suggest potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
3.A potentially imported zoonosis:transmission routes and global spreading pattern of Chagas disease(American trypanosomiasis)
Xiao-nen WU ; Bin-bin XIE ; Zhi-ying HOU ; Jun-hu CHEN ; Xiao-nong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(5):494-500
Chagas disease(American trypanosomiasis)is a zoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi,which severely affects public health.Recently,with changes in economic globalization and increased population mobility,this disease has gradually spread from the original Latin American epidemic areas to non-epidemic areas,such as Europe,thus showing a trend of globalization.The main trans-mission routes have changed from transmission via the Triatomine vector to blood transfusion transmission,mother-to-child transmis-sion,oral transmission,and other routes.Consequently,Chagas disease is spreading globally,and more people are increasingly vul-nerable to infection.This article retrospectively reviews research on the transmission routes of Chagas disease,analyzes the changing trends in transmission routes,and provides a scientific basis for the formulation and optimization of Chagas disease prevention and con-trol strategies from a One Health perspective.
4.Prevalence and molecular characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Esch-erichia coli in domestic goats in the Chengkou District of Chongqing
Jing-jing PENG ; Bin HU ; Xi YANG ; Yi LI ; Hai HUANG ; Wen-shuang LIU ; Yu MENG ; Li-jun WANG ; Yan-wen XIONG ; Yi YUAN ; Pei-bin HOU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(5):529-536
This study investigated the infection status,drug resistance,and molecular characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli(STEC)in domestic goats in Chengkou county,Chongqing.In August 2023,283 fecal samples were collected from households in Chengkou county.After enrichment with EC broth and inoculation onto selective media,samples that tested positive for stx1/stx2 were selected for further isolation.The positive strains were investigated with antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing.According to the whole genomic sequences,the stx subtypes,serotypes,multi-locus sequence types,virulence genes,drug resistance genes,and phylogenetic relationships of the STEC strains were analyzed.Forty-six strains of STEC were isolated from 283 goat fecal samples,thus resulting in a detection rate of 16.25%.The 46 STEC strains were categorized into 12 O∶H serotypes,among which O76∶H19 and O8∶H7 predominated,each represented by 9 strains.Five STEC strains were identified as serotype O157∶H7.The 46 STEC strains were categorized into 11 sequence types(STs),among which ST675 and ST196 predominated,each represented by nine strains,accounting for a 19.57%proportion.The strains were categorized into 7 stx subtypes,among which stx1c(26/46,56.52%),followed by stx2k(9/46,19.57%)predominated.All nine Stx2k-STEC strains were identified as serotype O8∶H7 and sequence type ST196.In antimicrobial susceptibility testing,2 STEC strains were resistant to ampicillin,one strain was resistant to ampicillin/sulbactam,one strain was resistant to cefazolin,and one strain was resistant to cefoxitin.Nine Stx2k-STEC strains were found to carry the beta-lactam resistance gene blaEC-18.Antimicrobial sensitivity tests revealed that the nine Stx2k-STEC strains were sensitive to all 15 tested antibiotics.Moreover,phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 9 Stx2k-STEC strains were remarkably similar but showed high genetic diversity with respect to that of the Stx2k-STEC strains isolated from other regions in China.Goatsare an important animal reservoir for STEC in theChengkou district of Chongqing,and novel sequence type Stx2k-STEC strains distinct from those found in other regions of China were identified in this region.
5.Teaching model construction and practice of "health education" course in a medical school
Xiaojing HOU ; Weining LI ; Jun FENG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(4):506-511
Objective:To construct and implement the teaching model of "health education" course, evaluate the teaching effectiveness, and provide a reference for teaching "health education" to students in related majors at medical universities.Methods:Based on the bibliometric analysis, the training requirements of professional talents, and a survey of faculty and student needs, this article reported a teaching model for "health education" course guided by constructivism theory. The model included six aspects: theoretical basis, teaching objectives, activity framework/procedures, teacher-student communication, teaching resources, and teaching evaluation. The teaching model was used in the fourth semester of nursing undergraduates, and the effectiveness was evaluated from two aspects of learning performance and learning summary text analysis.Results:Students performed best in health education project design/proposal preparation and typical health education material design. The content analysis of the students' learning summary identified 12 themes in 5 areas: learning outcomes (attitudes and values, professional knowledge, professional ability), learning process (interest and challenge, teaching implementation), emotional experience (personal feelings, student-student relationship, teacher-student relationship), evaluation experience (rationality, satisfaction), suggestions for teaching (class hour arrangement, personal opportunities).Conclusions:The teaching mode of "health education" course guided by constructivism theory provides a learning scaffold. The value sense and challenge of knowledge, a warm classroom atmosphere, and student-teacher relationships promoted learning effectiveness. The complementary integration of group learning and individual learning is worthy of further exploration in the future.
6.Influence of Oatp4c1-P-gp transmembrane transport system in the kidneys of obese mice on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin
Jing-wen MEN ; Lu SUN ; Hao-ran YUE ; Zhao-yue DUAN ; Hui-nan HOU ; Ting GUI ; Jun-hong XIN ; Zhi-bo GAI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1318-1324
Aim To investigate the expression of or-ganic anion transporting polypeptide 4C1(Oatp4c1)-P-glycoprotein(P-gp)in the kidneys of obese mice in-duced by high-fat diet(HFD),and its impact on the pharmacokinetic changes of digoxin.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the Chow group and the HFD group.Body weight and blood glu-cose were recorded weekly.After successful model es-tablishment,digoxin was intraperitoneally injected,and blood was collected at different time points.Part of the blood samples was used for LC-MS/MS detection,and the other part was used for the detection of other bio-chemical indicators.After 16 weeks,the organs were removed and weighed.HE and immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the renal pathology and the expression of Villin,a marker of proximal tubules.Western blot and qPCR were combined to detect the expression of Villin,Oatp4c1 and P-gp.Results In the HFD group,body weight and blood glucose in-creased significantly.The blood concentration of digox-in rose,the area under the curve increased,and the half-life was prolonged.The proximal tubular epithelial cells shed,and the protein expression of Villin,Oatp4c1 and P-gp decreased significantly.Conclu-sions The down-regulation of Oatp4c1-P-gp expres-sion in the kidneys of HFD mice leads to an increase in the blood concentration of digoxin and a decrease in re-nal clearance.
7.Feasibility analysis of bilateral uterine artery embolization via distal radial artery access
Faliang DAI ; Chunhai LI ; Jun HOU ; Tianshu LIU ; Yongqi JI ; Fangfang ZHANG ; Yan JIAO ; Guoning TIAN ; Yixing LIU
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(9):1549-1552
Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of bilateral uterine artery embolization(UAE)via distal radial artery access.Methods Thirty patients who underwent bilateral UAE were selected.They were divided into distal radial artery group(14 cases)and femoral artery group(16 cases).The clinical signs,puncture times,operation time,compression hemostasis time,discomfort scores,microcatheter non-use rates,and complication rates of the two groups were analyzed,the feasibility and safety of bilateral UAE via distal radial artery access were evaluated.Results The mean number of puncture times in the distal radial artery group was 1.6 times that of the femoral artery group,and the puncture pain score was 1.5 times that of the femoral artery group(P<0.05).The operation time and puncture point compression hemostasis time in the distal radial artery group were shorter than those in the femoral artery group,and the discomfort score of compression hemostasis in the distal radial artery group was lower than that in the femoral artery group(P<0.01).The proportions who did not use microcatheters in the two groups accounted for 28.6%and 6.3%,respectively,the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Four patients with poor access vessels were found in the distal radial artery group(P<0.05).Conclusion Bilateral UAE via distal radial artery access is safe and feasible.
8.Study on the Suitability Regionalation of Codonopsis pilosula in Shanxi Province Based on MaxEnt and ArcGIS
Lei HOU ; Zihao XU ; Ziying LEI ; Yanhui WU ; Jun ZHANG ; Chenhui DU ; Runli HE
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(4):7-13
Objective To analyze the ecological suitability of Codonopsis pilosula;To provide theoretical reference for expanding the planting scale of Codonopsis pilosula in Shanxi Province.Methods Information on the distribution of Codonopsis pilosula samples through the fourth survey of TCM resources in Shanxi Province and literature review;the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS 10.8 geographic information system software were used to analyze the ecological factors affecting the distribution of Codonopsis Radix in Shanxi Province,and the suitable distribution areas of Codonopsis pilosula in Shanxi Province were predicted.Results The predicted distribution areas of Codonopsis pilosula in Shanxi Province by the model were highly consistent with the actual distribution area;the AUC of the training set was 0.945,indicating good prediction results.The predominant ecological factors(contributing)impacting the distribution of Codonopsis pilosula included vegetation type(31.1%),the standard deviation of seasonal temperature fluctuations(25.0%),slope(8.3%),mean January precipitation(5.3%),mean May precipitation(5.0%),and elevation(4.9%)etc.The optimal vegetation types conducive to the proliferation of Codonopsis pilosula were identified as temperate deciduous shrubs,temperate grasslands,temperate coniferous forests,and temperate deciduous broad-leaved forests.The standard deviation of seasonal temperature change was within the range of 92 to 108,the slope gradient was from 14° to 30°,mean January precipitation was of 4 to 6.8 mm,mean May precipitation was of 33.5 to 58 mm,and elevation ranged from 1 100 to 2 800 meters.Codonopsis pilosula was mainly distributed in Lucheng,Qinxian and Qinyuan counties in the eastern part of Taiyue Mountain in Changzhi City;Pu County,Fenxi County,Fenyang City of Lyuliang City in the Lyuliang Mountain Range and Yushe County of Jinzhong City in the northern part of Taiyue Mountain.The most suitable area in Shanxi Province was 14 109.67 km2,the suitable area encompassed 22 837.62 km2,the relatively suitable area covered 41 982.96 km2,while the unsuitable area extended over 77 769.75 km2.Conclusion The geographical distribution data of Codonopsis pilosula resources in Shanxi Province may serve as a basis for further examination of regional zoning,with the establishment of wild cultivation bases for Codonopsis pilosula in proximity to various mountain ranges,such as the Taihang Mountains.Moreover,the artificial cultivation conditions can be modified in accordance with the optimal growth environment of Codonopsis pilosula,thereby optimizing the management of Codonopsis resources.
9.Clinicopathologic analysis of 19 cases of urachal adenocarcinoma
Xiang LI ; Ying HUANG ; Weiyu PAN ; Juan YU ; Xinxin GUO ; Xiaolei ZHANG ; Licheng SHEN ; Yingyong HOU ; Jun HOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(5):571-576
Purpose To explore the clinical and pathological features,differential diagnosis,treatment methods and prognosis of urachal adenocarcinoma.Methods Nineteen cases of urachal adenocarcinoma were collected and an-alyzed by combining clinical symptoms,auxiliary examinations,histology,immunohistochemical,and genetic testing and 11 cases of bladder adenocarcinomas.Results Among the 19 patients(15 males,4 females;age range:33-75 years,mean:55 years),tumors were located at the dome or anterior wall of the bladder.Histological subtypes includ-ed mucinous adenocarcinoma(6 cases),adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified(4 cases),enteric-type adenocarci-noma(6 cases),adenocarcinoma with focal mucinous differentiation(1 case),adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell carcinoma(1 case),and metastatic urachal adenocarcinoma(1 case).Immunophenotypic analysis revealed membra-nous positivity for β-catenin,diffuse positivity for CK34βE 12,MUC-2,and CK20,focal CK7 positivity in some cases,and rare GATA-3 positivity.Mutations in p53 were observed,while KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,and PIK3CA mutations were absent.In colorectal adenocarcinomas,CK34βE12 positivity was 40%,nuclear β-catenin positivity was 48%,and MUC-2 expression was approximately 50%.In bladder adenocarcinomas,GATA-3 and MUC-2 positivity rates were 45%and 63.6%,respectively.Conclusion Distinguishing urachal adenocarcinoma from colorectal and primary bladder adenocarcinomas remains challenging.Urachal adenocarcinoma should be suspected in patients with anterior bladder wall or dome lesions,gross hematuria,or mucinuria.No definitive diagnostic markers currently exist for ura-chal adenocarcinoma.Immunophenotypic features such as membranous β-catenin,MUC-2,and CK7 positivity may fa-vor urachal adenocarcinoma over colorectal adenocarcinoma.Additional markers(e.g.,GATA-3,CK20,CK34βE12)aid in differential diagnosis,though individual markers lack specificity.Comprehensive evaluation integrating clinical presentation,imaging,and clinicopathological features is essential for accurate diagnosis.
10.A potentially imported zoonosis:transmission routes and global spreading pattern of Chagas disease(American trypanosomiasis)
Xiao-nen WU ; Bin-bin XIE ; Zhi-ying HOU ; Jun-hu CHEN ; Xiao-nong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(5):494-500
Chagas disease(American trypanosomiasis)is a zoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi,which severely affects public health.Recently,with changes in economic globalization and increased population mobility,this disease has gradually spread from the original Latin American epidemic areas to non-epidemic areas,such as Europe,thus showing a trend of globalization.The main trans-mission routes have changed from transmission via the Triatomine vector to blood transfusion transmission,mother-to-child transmis-sion,oral transmission,and other routes.Consequently,Chagas disease is spreading globally,and more people are increasingly vul-nerable to infection.This article retrospectively reviews research on the transmission routes of Chagas disease,analyzes the changing trends in transmission routes,and provides a scientific basis for the formulation and optimization of Chagas disease prevention and con-trol strategies from a One Health perspective.

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