1.Increased CT Attenuation of Pericolic Adipose Tissue as a Noninvasive Marker of Disease Severity in Ulcerative Colitis
Jun LU ; Hui XU ; Jing ZHENG ; Tianxin CHENG ; Xinjun HAN ; Yuxin WANG ; Xuxu MENG ; Xiaoyang LI ; Jiahui JIANG ; Xue DONG ; Xijie ZHANG ; Zhenchang WANG ; Zhenghan YANG ; Lixue XU
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):411-421
Objective:
Accurate evaluation of inflammation severity in ulcerative colitis (UC) can guide treatment strategy selection. The potential value of the pericolic fat attenuation index (FAI) on CT as an indicator of disease severity remains unknown.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of pericolic FAI in predicting UC severity.
Materials and Methods:
This retrospective study enrolled 148 patients (mean age 48 years; 87 males). The fat attenuation on CT was measured in four different locations: the mesocolic vascular side (MS) and opposite side of MS (OMS) around the most severe bowel lesion, the retroperitoneal space (RS), and the subcutaneous area. The fat attenuation indices (FAI MS, FAI OMS, and FAI RS) were calculated as the fat attenuation measured in MS, OMS, and RS, respectively, minus that of the subcutaneous area, and were obtained in the non-enhanced, arterial, and delayed phases. Correlations between the FAI and UC Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) were assessed using Spearman’s correlation. Predictors of severe UC (UCEIS ≥7) were selected by univariable analysis. The performance of FAI in predicting severe UC was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).
Results:
The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores were significantly higher than FAI RS in three phases (all P < 0.001). The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores moderately correlated with the UCEIS score (r = 0.474–0.649 among the three phases). Additionally, FAI MS and FAI OMS identified severe UC, with AUC varying from 0.77 to 0.85.
Conclusion
Increased CT attenuation of pericolic adipose tissue could serve as a noninvasive marker for evaluating UC severity. FAI MS and FAI OMS of three phases showed similar prediction accuracies for severe UC identification.
2.Increased CT Attenuation of Pericolic Adipose Tissue as a Noninvasive Marker of Disease Severity in Ulcerative Colitis
Jun LU ; Hui XU ; Jing ZHENG ; Tianxin CHENG ; Xinjun HAN ; Yuxin WANG ; Xuxu MENG ; Xiaoyang LI ; Jiahui JIANG ; Xue DONG ; Xijie ZHANG ; Zhenchang WANG ; Zhenghan YANG ; Lixue XU
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):411-421
Objective:
Accurate evaluation of inflammation severity in ulcerative colitis (UC) can guide treatment strategy selection. The potential value of the pericolic fat attenuation index (FAI) on CT as an indicator of disease severity remains unknown.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of pericolic FAI in predicting UC severity.
Materials and Methods:
This retrospective study enrolled 148 patients (mean age 48 years; 87 males). The fat attenuation on CT was measured in four different locations: the mesocolic vascular side (MS) and opposite side of MS (OMS) around the most severe bowel lesion, the retroperitoneal space (RS), and the subcutaneous area. The fat attenuation indices (FAI MS, FAI OMS, and FAI RS) were calculated as the fat attenuation measured in MS, OMS, and RS, respectively, minus that of the subcutaneous area, and were obtained in the non-enhanced, arterial, and delayed phases. Correlations between the FAI and UC Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) were assessed using Spearman’s correlation. Predictors of severe UC (UCEIS ≥7) were selected by univariable analysis. The performance of FAI in predicting severe UC was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).
Results:
The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores were significantly higher than FAI RS in three phases (all P < 0.001). The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores moderately correlated with the UCEIS score (r = 0.474–0.649 among the three phases). Additionally, FAI MS and FAI OMS identified severe UC, with AUC varying from 0.77 to 0.85.
Conclusion
Increased CT attenuation of pericolic adipose tissue could serve as a noninvasive marker for evaluating UC severity. FAI MS and FAI OMS of three phases showed similar prediction accuracies for severe UC identification.
3.Increased CT Attenuation of Pericolic Adipose Tissue as a Noninvasive Marker of Disease Severity in Ulcerative Colitis
Jun LU ; Hui XU ; Jing ZHENG ; Tianxin CHENG ; Xinjun HAN ; Yuxin WANG ; Xuxu MENG ; Xiaoyang LI ; Jiahui JIANG ; Xue DONG ; Xijie ZHANG ; Zhenchang WANG ; Zhenghan YANG ; Lixue XU
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):411-421
Objective:
Accurate evaluation of inflammation severity in ulcerative colitis (UC) can guide treatment strategy selection. The potential value of the pericolic fat attenuation index (FAI) on CT as an indicator of disease severity remains unknown.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of pericolic FAI in predicting UC severity.
Materials and Methods:
This retrospective study enrolled 148 patients (mean age 48 years; 87 males). The fat attenuation on CT was measured in four different locations: the mesocolic vascular side (MS) and opposite side of MS (OMS) around the most severe bowel lesion, the retroperitoneal space (RS), and the subcutaneous area. The fat attenuation indices (FAI MS, FAI OMS, and FAI RS) were calculated as the fat attenuation measured in MS, OMS, and RS, respectively, minus that of the subcutaneous area, and were obtained in the non-enhanced, arterial, and delayed phases. Correlations between the FAI and UC Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) were assessed using Spearman’s correlation. Predictors of severe UC (UCEIS ≥7) were selected by univariable analysis. The performance of FAI in predicting severe UC was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).
Results:
The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores were significantly higher than FAI RS in three phases (all P < 0.001). The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores moderately correlated with the UCEIS score (r = 0.474–0.649 among the three phases). Additionally, FAI MS and FAI OMS identified severe UC, with AUC varying from 0.77 to 0.85.
Conclusion
Increased CT attenuation of pericolic adipose tissue could serve as a noninvasive marker for evaluating UC severity. FAI MS and FAI OMS of three phases showed similar prediction accuracies for severe UC identification.
4.Research on brain damage and therapeutic effects of comorbid auditory and visual hallucinations and cognitive decline in patients with first-episode schizophrenia based on brain magnetic resonance imaging
Chunhai HUANG ; Wenzhen TU ; Ce CHEN ; Lei MENG ; Lixue QIU ; Jianjing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2025;32(9):1331-1336
Objective:To investigate brain damage and treatment efficacy in patients with first-episode schizophrenia with comorbid auditory and visual hallucinations and cognitive decline based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:This study adopted a retrospective cohort design. Eighty patients with first-episode schizophrenia who received treatment at Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital from January to June 2024 were included in this study. The patients were divided into an observation group (40 cases of first-episode schizophrenia with comorbid auditory and visual hallucinations) and a control group (40 cases of first-episode schizophrenia without comorbid auditory and visual hallucinations) based on whether they had symptoms of comorbid auditory and visual hallucinations. Forty healthy individuals who concurrently underwent physical examinations were included in the normal group. All patients received standardized treatment. Cranial MRI data were collected from all subjects. Cranial MRI data, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score, and changes in cognitive function were compared among the three groups. Additionally, the changes in cranial MRI data, PANSS score, GAF score, and the score of MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) in the observation group were compared between before and after treatment.Results:The horizontal distance between the corpus callosum and the underside of the cingulate gyrus, the vertical distance between the corpus callosum and the underside of the cingulate gyrus, and PANSS and GAF scores in the observation group were all significantly higher than those in the normal and control groups (all P < 0.05). The scores on all MCCB scales in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the normal and control groups (all P < 0.05). After treatment, the left horizontal distance between the corpus callosum and the underside of the cingulate gyrus [(5.72 ± 0.71) mm] and the right horizontal distance [(5.13 ± 0.55) mm], as well as the left vertical distance [(6.37 ± 0.69) mm] and the right vertical distance [(5.61 ± 0.67) mm], were all significantly lower than the pre-treatment values [(6.98 ± 0.83) mm, (6.07 ± 0.49) mm, (7.54 ± 0.58) mm, and (6.52 ± 0.51) mm, t = 7.30, 8.07, 8.21, 6.84, all P < 0.05]. Post-treatment PANSS scores [(39.95 ± 6.65)] were significantly lower than pre-treatment scores [(97.47 ± 18.47)], while post-treatment GAF scores [(71.26 ± 8.87)] were significantly higher than pre-treatment scores [(34.68 ± 7.71), t = 18.53, 19.69, both P < 0.05]. Post-treatment scores for the MCCB [(8.57 ± 2.45), (2.25 ± 0.47), (25.16 ± 2.43), (24.10 ± 2.64), (17.08 ± 2.25), (20.43 ± 3.76), (2.07 ± 0.36), (22.16 ± 3.24), (57.81 ± 7.69), (0.28 ± 0.05)] were significantly higher than pre-treatment scores [(5.65 ± 1.37), (1.62 ± 0.34), (21.21 ± 2.27), (20.27 ± 1.78), (12.16 ± 2.08), (14.56 ± 2.34), (1.71 ± 0.25), (17.92 ± 1.64), (40.29 ± 6.56), (0.21 ± 0.03), t = 6.58, 6.87, 7.51, 7.61, 10.15, 8.38, 5.19, 7.38, 10.96, 7.59, all P < 0.05]. Conclusions:The comorbid auditory and visual hallucinations in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, based on brain MRI findings, are closely related to cognitive decline and brain damage. After treatment, both cognitive function and cranial damage in these patients have considerably improved, which is worthy of clinical consideration.
5.SAPHO syndrome in elderly patients with organizing pneumonia: a case report and literature review
Jia CUI ; Jianing WEN ; Lixue HUANG ; Fang FANG ; Min ZHANG ; Yanming LI ; Xiaomao XU ; Yanfei GUO
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2025;44(11):1556-1561
Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of SAPHO syndrome in elderly patients with organizing pneumonia.Methods:We reported a case of SAPHO syndrome in an elderly patient with organizing pneumonia.Relevant reports on SAPHO syndrome with organizing pneumonia at home and abroad were retrieved, and the literature was summarized an analyzed.Results:The patient was a 63-year-od female who was admitted to the hospital due to "intermittent fever and cough for more than two months". Before admission, she was previously diagnosed with pneumonia in another hospital with poor response to anti-infective treatment.Chest CT showed multiple bilateral patchy consolidations in both lungs, with migratory changes and reversed halo signs.Her medical history included bone and joint pain(e.g., sternoclavicular joints)and palmoplantar pustulosis.Lung biopsy pathology confirmed organizing pneumonia. 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy revealed abnormal bone salt metabolism in multiple bone and joint areas.The final diagnosis was SAPHO syndrome with organizing pneumonia.Both symptoms and imaging significantly improved after prednisone treatment.Two related cases were retrieved from the literature.One was a 57-year-old female reported in the UK, who had been diagnosed with SAPHO syndrome before and was found to have lung consolidations due to respiratory symptoms.Lung biopsy confirmed organizing pneumonia, and she improved after glucocorticoid treatment.The other was a 59-year-old Chinese female who visited hospital due to pain in the lumbosacral part and left lower limb.After being diagnosed with SAPHO syndrome, a chest CT scan was performed and lung consolidations were found.The pathology confirmed organizing pneumonia.The patient improved after treatment with Tripterygium wilfordii. Conclusion:SAPHO syndrome complicated with organizing pneumonia is rare, with diverse clinical manifestations, and responds well to glucocorticoid therapy.
6.Tubeimoside I promoted Snail ubiquitination degradation and inhibited the malignant progression of PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells
Lixue FENG ; Chunyun ZHANG ; Zeyan LI ; Huiqi YIN ; Yingning SUN ; Dian-hui LIU ; Baogang YU ; He LIU ; Qingzhu YANG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(10):1955-1962
AIM:This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism by which tubeimoside I(TBMS1)inhibits Snail expression in pancreatic cancer cells(PANC-1).METHODS:Human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells were cultured in vitro.The inhibitory effect of TBMS1 on PANC-1 cells was assessed using the MTT assay,and the data were analyzed based on the IC50 value of TBMS1.The impact of TBMS1 on the clonal formation ability of PANC-1 cells was evaluated through colony formation assays.The Transwell assay was employed to assess the effect of TBMS1 on the migrato-ry capability of PANC-1 cells.Apoptosis and cell cycle alterations in PANC-1 cells were analyzed using acridine orange staining and flow cytometry.The expression of Snail protein in pancreatic cancer and its relationship with survival of the patients were analyzed using the GEPIA database and Kaplan-Meier Plotter data.Immunofluorescence staining was con-ducted to investigate the effect of TBMS1 on Snail expression,while Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase(PARP),E-cadherin and Snail in the cells.The ubiquitination of Snail protein was mea-sured using immunoprecipitation techniques.RESULTS:As the concentration of TBMS1 increased,the survival rate and number of clones formed by PANC-1 cells progressively decreased,leading to apoptosis,cleavage of PARP,and cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase.There was also a reduction in the proportion of cells in the S phase and a decrease in cell migration ability.The expression of Snail protein,a critical factor in cell migration,was inhibited,while E-cadherin protein levels were increased.Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 was able to reverse the suppression of Snail protein ex-pression caused by TBMS1.Immunoprecipitation results indicated that TBMS1 enhances the ubiquitination and subse-quent degradation of Snail protein.CONCLUSION:TBMS1 effectively inhibits the malignant progression of pancreatic cancer cells by promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of Snail protein in PANC-1 cells.
7.Design and implementation of online continuing education platform for transfusion medicine
Haiying LI ; Xin LI ; Lixue CHEN ; Jinlian LUO ; Xiaodan PENG ; Jintong ZHONG ; Le BAI ; Nannan ZHANG ; Zebo YU ; Xue HU
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(3):419-425
To provide in-service medical technicians and nurses with convenient access to continuing education resources in transfusion medicine, reduce transfusion-related adverse events, and ensure the safety, rationalization, and effectiveness of clinical transfusion, we designed and developed an online transfusion continuing education platform. The platform was based on the new managed code programming model.NET Core and the powerful functions of hypertext preprocessor PHP 7.4, addressing current issues in transfusion online continuing education. Through in-depth analysis of student attributes, learning behaviors, and teaching behaviors, a comprehensive online continuous teaching quality evaluation index system was established. This system not only facilitates the quantitative assessment of teaching quality but also successfully integrates the two core functions of teaching and management, thereby achieving unified online teaching.
8.Supine bicycle exercise stress echocardiographic assessment of the right heart-pulmonary circulation unit after high-altitude exposure in healthy adults
Yun XU ; Yi WANG ; Qingfeng ZHANG ; Kai WANG ; Sijia WANG ; Lixue YIN ; Yong JING
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(1):33-38
Objective:To observe the adaptive changes in the cardiovascular system after travelling to high altitude in healthy people using supine bicycle exercise stress echocardiography(SE),and to reveal the changes in right heart function,pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve in healthy people after acute high altitude exposure.Methods:Thirty-six healthy adults were prospectively collected to undergo SE at low altitude(500 m)and high altitude(3 600 m). Offline analysis was conducted to acquire resting and peak exercise ultrasound parameters at high and low altitudes:tricuspid regurgitant velocity(TRV),tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity(TV-s′),right ventricular end-diastolic area(RVEDA),right ventricular end-systolic area(RVESA),right ventricular fractional area change(RVFAC),right ventricular basal transverse dimension(RVD1),right ventricular mid-ventricular transverse dimension(RVD2),right ventricular longitudinal dimension(RVD3),right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain(RVFWS),right ventricular global longitudinal strain(RVGLS),left ventricular cardiac output(CO),pulmonary artery systolic pressure(PASP),mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP),pulmonary resistance(PVR)and the ratio of tricuspid annular systolic displacement(TAPSE)to PASP(TAPSE/PASP). The pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve indices including pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular systolic reserve indices(mPAP/CO slope,change in tricuspid annular systolic displacement(ΔTAPSE),change in fractional area change(ΔRVFAC),change in overall long-axis strain of the right ventricle(ΔRVGLS),and change in peak velocity of the lateral wall of the tricuspid annulus(ΔTV-s′)were calculated. The differences of these parameters betweet high and low altitudes were compared.Results:During the resting period,the values of TRV,PASP,mPAP,PVR,RVD2,and RVD3 were higher at high altitude than at low altitude(all P<0.05). TAPSE/PASP,RVFAC,RVGLS,and RVFWS were lower at high altitude than at low altitude(all P<0.05). During the peak exercise period,TRV,PASP,mPAP,PVR,RVAD,RVAS,RVD2,and RVD3 were all higher at high altitude than at low altitude(all P<0.05),and RVFAC at high altitude was lower than at low altitude( P<0.05). Right ventricular systolic reserve and pulmonary vascular reserve:mPAP/CO slope at high altitude was higher than at low altitude,ΔTV-s′ and RVFAC were lower than at low altitude(all P<0.05),there were no significant differences in ΔTAPSE and ΔRVGLS between the two altitudes(all P>0.05). Conclusions:Acute high altitude exposure causes adaptive dilatation of the right ventricle accompanied by a reduction in pulmonary vascular reserve and right ventricular contractile reserve function.
9.Report on the clinical application status and quality control directions of provocation/stress echocardiography in the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in large grade A tertiary hospitals in China
Mingjun XU ; Yi WANG ; Haohui ZHU ; Chunyan MA ; Lixue YIN ; Mei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(6):471-480
Objective:To assess the current clinical application status of provocation/stress echocardiography in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)among echocardiography physicians from large grade A tertiary hospitals,located in 24 provinces or directly administered municipalities,and to achieve a relatively clear and comprehensive overview of the current clinical application status of provocation/stress echocardiography in HCM. This study was conducted by the Chinese Society of Ultrasound in Medicine(CSUM)and Chinese Society of Echocardiography(CSE).Methods:An online survey was anonymously conducted using Question Star application from 20 March to 30 September 2023. The survey covered the following topics including the echocardiographic diagnostic overview,the selection of views and measurement parameter of echocardiography,and the cognition and application,awareness and management of risk,and clinical demand of provocation/stress echocardiography.Results:A total of 337 valid responses were included in the final statistical analysis. The study revealed that the number of HCM patients seen by echocardiography physicians was very few(0-10%),with a low proportion of diagnosed obstructive HCM patients. There was incomplete mastery of the left ventricular outflow tract(LVOT)obstruction criteria(68.25%),insufficient awareness of the importance of LVOT pressure gradient measurement(7.12% echocardiographic doctors routinely performed LVOT gradient measurement for suspect HCM patients),non-standardized selection of echocardiographic views and measurement parameters for HCM,and significant deficiencies in knowledge and application of Valsalva provocation/stress echocardiography(17.21% and 79.23% doctors were quite aware of the principles of Valsalva provocation/stress echocardiography,respectively). The risk awareness of provocation/stress echocardiography(13.65% physicians were fully aware of the potential risk)and the ability to manage associated risks(19.29% physicians were able to handle all emergencies)were lacking. Existing guidelines did not sufficiently standardize the clinical practice of provocation/stress echocardiography(23.44%),and there was diversity in learning formats requirements and unmet clinical needs.Conclusions:This survey revealed insufficient fundamental theoretical knowledge and a need for further standardization and training in the application of provocation/stress echocardiography for HCM among echocardiography physicians. Additionally,risk awareness and adequate response skills need improvement. There is a need for more practical and guiding guidelines for clinical practice,as well as numerous unmet clinical needs.
10.Development of a diagnostic model for severe coronary artery stenosis using resting echocardiography
Qingyu ZHONG ; Luwei YE ; Lan SHANG ; Sijia WANG ; Hang WU ; Zhenni ZHANG ; Qingguo MENG ; Chunmei LI ; Yan DENG ; Lixue YIN ; Yi WANG
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(11):958-966
Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic performance of resting echocardiography in detecting severe coronary artery stenosis.Methods:A total of 136 patients with suspected coronary artery disease(CAD)who presented to Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital between January 2021 and December 2024 were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent both coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)and transthoracic echocardiography within one week. Based on CCTA results,the patients were divided into non-severe stenosis group( n=78)and severe stenosis group( n=58). Echocardiographic parameters including left atrial maximum volume(LAVmax),left ventricular global longitudinal strain(GLS),left ventricular longitudinal strain of endo-myocardium,mid-myocardium,epi-myocardium(LSendo,LSmid,LSepi),early diastolic mitral inflow velocity(E),early diastolic mitral annular velocity of the lateral and septal walls(e'),and E/e' were measured. Predictive factors for severe coronary stenosis were identified using LASSO regression,and a nomogram model was developed via multivariate Logistic regression. Model performance was evaluated using ROC curves,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis. Results:Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed LSendo,LAVmax,and E/e' as independent predictors of severe coronary artery stenosis. The nomogram constructed based on these predictors achieved an area under the curve of 0.798(95% CI=0.723-0.873),with sensitivity and specificity of 0.756 and 0.759,respectively. Conclusions:The resting echocardiography-based nomogram model demonstrates good diagnostic efficacy for severe coronary artery stenosis. It may serve as a noninvasive tool to assist in risk stratification and clinical decision-making in patients with suspected CAD.

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