Objective To explore the differences in the radiological features,clinical,and laboratory indicators of frequent versus infrequent gout flares in the feet and ankles using dual-energy computed tomography(DECT).Methods A retrospective selection was made on 385 gout patients,who were divided into the frequent flare group(≥2 gout attacks per year,219 cases)and the infre-quent flare group(<2 gout attacks per year,166 cases).Clinical data,laboratory indicators,and DECT imaging findings were col-lected for statistical analysis.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for frequent gout flares and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted.Results Statistically significant differences were found between the fre-quent flare group and the infrequent flare group in terms of disease duration,body mass index(BMI),blood pressure,triglyceride(TG),serum uric acid(SUA),monosodium urate(MSU)crystal deposition,total volume of MSU crystals,maximum diameter of individ-ual tophi,number of affected joints,bone erosion,maximum depth of bone erosion,soft tissue swelling,bone proliferation and sclero-sis,and joint space narrowing(P<0.05).SUA levels,MSU crystal deposition,total volume of MSU crystals,and maximum depth of bone erosion were identified as independent risk factors for frequent gout(P<0.05).Both the combination of four factors model and the maximum depth of bone erosion model had better diagnostic efficacy.Conclusion Gout patients with high SUA levels,MSU crystal deposition,larger total volume of MSU crystals,and greater maximum depth of bone erosion are more likely to experience frequent gout attacks.Patients with bone erosion depth>3.200 mm are more likely identified early as having frequent gout.

Objective To compare the value of ultrashort echo time(UTE)and T1W sequences for detecting bone erosions of gouty arthritis.Methods Forty-four gouty patients were prospectively enrolled,including 32 cases with affected feet and 12 cases with affected knee.MR UTE and T1W sequence scanning of the affected area were performed,and subjectively scoring of imaging quality of 2 kinds of MRI were evaluated,respectively.Then total number and total score of bone erosions of each case were calculated according to all affected bones.Taken DECT as reference standard,the efficacy of UTE and T1WI for detecting bone erosions was assessed through comparing with DECT using Kappa coefficient.Results The imaging quality score of T1WI was lower than that of DECT(all P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between UTE and DECT(all P＞0.05).There was high agreement between UTE and DECT for detecting bone erosions(κ=0.949),while the agreement between T1WI and DECT ranged from good to high(κ=0.718 to 0.805).The total number and total score of bone erosions based on T1WI were significantly lower than those based on DECT(all P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between UTE and DECT(all P＞0.05).Conclusion UTE was better than T1WI for detecting bone erosions of gouty arthritis.

Objective To explore the differences in the radiological features,clinical,and laboratory indicators of frequent versus infrequent gout flares in the feet and ankles using dual-energy computed tomography(DECT).Methods A retrospective selection was made on 385 gout patients,who were divided into the frequent flare group(≥2 gout attacks per year,219 cases)and the infre-quent flare group(<2 gout attacks per year,166 cases).Clinical data,laboratory indicators,and DECT imaging findings were col-lected for statistical analysis.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for frequent gout flares and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted.Results Statistically significant differences were found between the fre-quent flare group and the infrequent flare group in terms of disease duration,body mass index(BMI),blood pressure,triglyceride(TG),serum uric acid(SUA),monosodium urate(MSU)crystal deposition,total volume of MSU crystals,maximum diameter of individ-ual tophi,number of affected joints,bone erosion,maximum depth of bone erosion,soft tissue swelling,bone proliferation and sclero-sis,and joint space narrowing(P<0.05).SUA levels,MSU crystal deposition,total volume of MSU crystals,and maximum depth of bone erosion were identified as independent risk factors for frequent gout(P<0.05).Both the combination of four factors model and the maximum depth of bone erosion model had better diagnostic efficacy.Conclusion Gout patients with high SUA levels,MSU crystal deposition,larger total volume of MSU crystals,and greater maximum depth of bone erosion are more likely to experience frequent gout attacks.Patients with bone erosion depth>3.200 mm are more likely identified early as having frequent gout.

Objective To compare the value of ultrashort echo time(UTE)and T1W sequences for detecting bone erosions of gouty arthritis.Methods Forty-four gouty patients were prospectively enrolled,including 32 cases with affected feet and 12 cases with affected knee.MR UTE and T1W sequence scanning of the affected area were performed,and subjectively scoring of imaging quality of 2 kinds of MRI were evaluated,respectively.Then total number and total score of bone erosions of each case were calculated according to all affected bones.Taken DECT as reference standard,the efficacy of UTE and T1WI for detecting bone erosions was assessed through comparing with DECT using Kappa coefficient.Results The imaging quality score of T1WI was lower than that of DECT(all P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between UTE and DECT(all P＞0.05).There was high agreement between UTE and DECT for detecting bone erosions(κ=0.949),while the agreement between T1WI and DECT ranged from good to high(κ=0.718 to 0.805).The total number and total score of bone erosions based on T1WI were significantly lower than those based on DECT(all P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between UTE and DECT(all P＞0.05).Conclusion UTE was better than T1WI for detecting bone erosions of gouty arthritis.

Objective To summarize and analyze the key procedures of the modified rat model of orthotopic left lung transplantation, aiming to provide more experience for the establishment of rat models of lung transplantation. Methods Two surgeons (A and B) performed complete transplantation in consecutive 15 rat models, and every 5 surgeries were divided into 1 practice stage. The operating time of each transplantation procedure was recorded. The differences of overall success rate and 1-week survival rate were calculated among different practice stages. The learning curve was delineated by the cumulative sum method. Results For surgeons A and B, the number of the first successful transplantation was the 5th and 6th time, the overall success rates of transplantation were 80% and 87% respectively, and the 1-week survival rates of rats both were 92%. Along with the increasing number of surgeries, the entire cardiopulmonary procurement, cannula preparation, cold ischemia, warm ischemia, transplantation and total operation time by two surgeons showed a significantly downward trend (all P < 0.05). For surgeons A and B, 3 and 2 rats died of heart failure due to overdose anesthesia, and 1 rat died of vein distortion at postoperative 1 d and 1 died of atelectasis at postoperative 7 d, respectively. The goodness of fit (R²) of cumulative sum method was 0.992 8 and 0.976 6. The turning point of learning curve was achieved in the 7th and 8th transplantation for surgeons A and B. Conclusions The modified rat model of orthotopic left lung transplantation yields high operability and repeatability both theoretically and technologically, and has multiple advantages of short learning curve, short operation time, high survival rate of the recipients and few complications, which is worthy of application in the basic research of lung transplantation.

Due to the influence of immunosuppression, nerve injury and other comprehensive factors, the overall incidence of gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation is relatively high, which can cause drug absorption disorder and chronic rejection. In recent years, more and more studies have been conducted on these complications. However, due to the great difference of the incidence of gastrointestinal complications among lung transplantation centers, clinicians lack of understanding of these. In this article, the general status, common types and risk factors of gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for comprehensive management of gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application value of ultrasound in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis (TA ). Methods: A total of 39 suspected TA patients were examined by ultrasonography,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C reactive protein (CRP)and CT angiography (CTA), and the ultrasound examination results were compared and analyzed with the final chinical diagnosis results. Results:Of the 39 cases of suspected TA patients which had been examined by ultrasound,33 cases were diagnosed as TA,2 cases were diagnosed as atherosclerosis (AS),2 cases were diagnosed as fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and 2 cases were diagnosed as thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO).Compared with final chinical diagnosis results, 1 FMD patient was misdiagnosed as TA,and the rest of the diagnostic results were consistent with the final chinical diagnosis results.Conclusion:Ultrasound examination can provide objective and accurate basis for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of TA,and it is an effective method of imaging examination.