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.

Objective:To evaluate preoperative high-resolution thin-layer cervical enhanced CT used to predict the venous route of the submental flap reflux vein and its relationship with adjacent structures in order to guide the anatomical understanding and protection of submental flap in pharyngeal cancer surgery.Methods:Sixty consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer who underwent submental flap repair surgery in our department from March 2022 to December 2024, as well as 60 patients who were accepted neck dissection suffering other cancers, were selected. Before surgery, high-resolution cervical enhanced CT scans were performed, and the position of the transverse section of the facial vein in the venous phase horizontal image gradually variation tendency was focused layer by layer. The direction and adjacent relationship of the submental flap reflux veins were determined and recorded. Combined with 60 patients with other head and neck tumors who underwent neck dissection in our department during the same period (a total of 120 cases, 240 sides), the classification and management of the draining veins of Fang′s mental flap were conducted. Type Ⅰ mainly drains into the internal jugular vein; Type Ⅱ mainly drains into the external jugular vein and Type Ⅲ mainly drains into the anterior jugular vein (often accompanied by an external jugular draining branch). The status and proportion of venous drainage were analyzed.Results:Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 98.3% (59/60) among the 60 patients with pharyngeal cancer. Only one patient was predicted to have a simple return to the external jugular vein. However, during the operation, in addition to the main return to the external jugular vein, a small portion also returned to the internal jugular vein. Submental flap reflux vessels were classified into three types based on intraoperative submental flap venous return in 60 cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer, in conjunction with the analysis of venous return patterns from 240 cervical CT scans. Type Ⅰ mainly refluxed to the internal jugular vein, accounting for 42.1%. Type Ⅱ mainly refluxed to the external jugular vein (47.9%). Type Ⅲ mainly refluxed to the anterior jugular vein (10.0%). The total detection rate of CT reading of 240 venous reflux was 98.7% (237/240). Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 97.9%(235/240).Conclusion:The detailed analysis of submental venous return vessels can accurately predict the direction of reflux veins and its surrounding areas by preoperative high-resolution enhanced CT scan. This provides reliable guidance for the anatomy and protection of the submental flap reflux veins during surgery.

Objective:To evaluate preoperative high-resolution thin-layer cervical enhanced CT used to predict the venous route of the submental flap reflux vein and its relationship with adjacent structures in order to guide the anatomical understanding and protection of submental flap in pharyngeal cancer surgery.Methods:Sixty consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer who underwent submental flap repair surgery in our department from March 2022 to December 2024, as well as 60 patients who were accepted neck dissection suffering other cancers, were selected. Before surgery, high-resolution cervical enhanced CT scans were performed, and the position of the transverse section of the facial vein in the venous phase horizontal image gradually variation tendency was focused layer by layer. The direction and adjacent relationship of the submental flap reflux veins were determined and recorded. Combined with 60 patients with other head and neck tumors who underwent neck dissection in our department during the same period (a total of 120 cases, 240 sides), the classification and management of the draining veins of Fang′s mental flap were conducted. Type Ⅰ mainly drains into the internal jugular vein; Type Ⅱ mainly drains into the external jugular vein and Type Ⅲ mainly drains into the anterior jugular vein (often accompanied by an external jugular draining branch). The status and proportion of venous drainage were analyzed.Results:Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 98.3% (59/60) among the 60 patients with pharyngeal cancer. Only one patient was predicted to have a simple return to the external jugular vein. However, during the operation, in addition to the main return to the external jugular vein, a small portion also returned to the internal jugular vein. Submental flap reflux vessels were classified into three types based on intraoperative submental flap venous return in 60 cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer, in conjunction with the analysis of venous return patterns from 240 cervical CT scans. Type Ⅰ mainly refluxed to the internal jugular vein, accounting for 42.1%. Type Ⅱ mainly refluxed to the external jugular vein (47.9%). Type Ⅲ mainly refluxed to the anterior jugular vein (10.0%). The total detection rate of CT reading of 240 venous reflux was 98.7% (237/240). Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 97.9%(235/240).Conclusion:The detailed analysis of submental venous return vessels can accurately predict the direction of reflux veins and its surrounding areas by preoperative high-resolution enhanced CT scan. This provides reliable guidance for the anatomy and protection of the submental flap reflux veins during surgery.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)on autophagy in bEnd.3 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD).Methods The bEnd.3 cells were divided into normal group(conventional culture),model group(OGD model),HSYA group(OGD model+75 μmol·L-1 HSYA),3-methyladenine(3MA)group(5 mmol·L-1 3MA+OGD model)and 3 MA+HSYA group(5 mmol·L-1 3 MA+OGD model+75 μmol·L-1 HSYA).The level of apoptosis was determined by TUNEL fluorescence staining;Western blot was used to detect the expression of autophagy,blood brain barrier(BBB)related proteins;real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method for determining the expression of sirtuin-1(SIRT1)and forkhead box protein O3a(FOXO3A)mRNA.Results In the normal group,model group,HSYA group,3MA group and 3MA+HSYA group,the positive cells selected for TUNEL staining were 5.00±1.00,28.00±2.00,21.00±3.00,35.33±2.51 and 29.67±2.52;the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ/-Ⅰ(LC3-Ⅱ/-Ⅰ)were 0.90±0.20,1.34±0.10,1.95±0.14,0.76±0.15 and 1.14±0.09;sequestosome 1(P62)were 0.99±0.02,0.60±0.02,0.38±0.01,0.67±0.04 and 0.54±0.01;occludin were 1.39±0.17,0.62±0.15,1.00±0.09,0.40±0.13 and 0.80±0.15;zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)were 1.63±0.20,0.64±0.06,0.98±0.14,0.37±0.14 and 0.87±0.04;SIRT1 mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.75±0.07,1.69±0.09,0.31±0.02 and 0.56±0.01;FOXO3A mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.80±0.05,1.47±0.09,0.40±0.01 and 0.62±0.09,respectively.Significant differences were found between model group and normal group,HSYA group and model group,3MA+HSYA group and 3MA group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.001).Conclusion HSYA may enhance autophagy levels in bEnd.3 cells after OGD through the SIRT1/FOXO3A pathway,inhibit cell apoptosis and alleviate BBB damage.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical and prognostic value of prothrombin time(PT)and activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT)in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma(MM).Methods:The clinical data of 116 newly diagnosed MM patients in the Second Hospital and Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from October 2014 to March 2022 were analyzed retrospectively,and the patients were divided into two groups:normal PT and APTT group and prolonged PT or APTT group.The differences in sex,age,classification,staging,bleeding events,laboratory indicators[including hemoglobin(Hb),platelet count(PLT),serum calcium,serum albumin(ALB),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),serum creatinine and β 2-microglobulin],and cytogenetic characteristics between the two groups of patients were compared.The effect of prolonged PT or APTT on survival of patients with MM was analyzed.Results:Compared with patients in normal PT and APTT group,patients in prolonged PT or APTT group were more likely to experience bleeding events(x2=5.087,P=0.024),with lower ALB levels(x2=4.962,P=0.026)and PLT levels(x2=4.309,P=0.038),and higher serum calcium levels(x2=5.056,P=0.025).The positive rates of del17p,del13q and 1q21+in prolonged PT or APTT group were higher than those in normal PT and APTT group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).K-M survival analysis showed that the prolonged PT or APTT group had a shorter median progression-free survival(PFS)(P=0.032)and overall survival(OS)(P=0.032).Multivariate Cox analysis showed that prolonged PT or APTT(HR=2.1 16,95％CI:1.025-4.372,P=0.043)and age ≥65 years(HR=2.403,95％CI:1.195-4.836,P=0.014)were independent risk factor for OS in newly diagnosed MM patients.However,prolonged PT or APTT had no significant effect on PFS of newly diagnosed MM patients(HR=1.162,95％CI:0.666-2.026,P=0.597).Conclusion:Newly diagnosed MM patients with prolonged PT or APTT have worse clinical indicators,shorter PFS and OS.Prolonged PT or APTT is an independent risk factor for OS in MM patients.

The study is designed to observe the mechanism of Tongfu Xiefei Guanchang Solution(TFXF) in the treatment of acute lung injury(ALI) in rats by improving intestinal barrier and intestinal flora structure via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK)/myosin light chain kinase(MLCK) signaling pathway. Sixty SPF-grade Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control(CON) group, lipopolysaccharide(LPS) group(7.5 mg·kg~(-1)), LPS + dexamethasone(DEX) group(3.5 mg·kg~(-1)), LPS + high-dose(HD)-TFXF group(14.74 g·kg~(-1)), LPS + middle-dose(MD)-TFXF group(7.37 g·kg~(-1)), and LPS + low-dose(LD)-TFXF group(3.69 g·kg~(-1)). ALI model of the rat was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity and total protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were measured; tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) levels in lung and colon tissue of rats were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological expression in the lung and colon tissue of rats. The mRNA expression of p38 MAPK, TNF-α, and IL-1β in rat lung tissue was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression related to the p38 MAPK/MLCK signaling pathway in the colon tissue of rats. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to detect changes in the composition and content of intestinal flora in rats, and correlation analyses were performed to explore the regulatory role of intestinal flora in improving ALI in rats. The results showed that compared with those in the LPS group, the histopathological scores of lung and colon tissue, LDH activity, and total protein concentration in BALF were significantly reduced in rats in all groups after drug administration. Except for the LPS + LD-TFXF group, the remaining groups significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the lung and colon tissue of rats. The protein expressions of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p-p38 MAPK)/p38, phosphorylated myosin light chain(p-MLC)/myosin light chain 2(MLC2), and MLCK in colon tissue of rats in each drug administration group were significantly decreased. The mRNA expression levels of p38 MAPK, TNF-α, and IL-1β were significantly reduced in the LPS + HD-TFXF group. 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that the abundance of intestinal flora was significantly higher in the LPS + HD-TFXF group, and intestinal floras including Sobs, Shannon, and Npshannon were significantly higher. The β-diversity distribution of intestinal flora tends toward the CON group, and the abundance of Firmicutes was significantly higher. The abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly reduced; the abundance of Bacteroides was significantly reduced, and the abundance of Ruminococcus was significantly higher. The main species differences were Blautia, Roseburia＿sp＿499, and Butyricicoccus. TNF-α and IL-1β of lung tissue were negatively correlated with Muribaculaceae, unclassified norank＿f＿Eubacterium＿coprostanoligenes, and Ruminococcus and positively correlated with Bacteroides. Meanwhile, TNF-α and IL-1β of colon tissue were negatively correlated with unclassified norank＿f＿Eubacterium＿coprostanoligenes and Ruminococcus and positively correlated with Bacteroides. The predicted biological function of the flora was related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, amino acid biosynthesis, sugar metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. The above studies show that TFXF can repair lung and colon tissue structure and regulate inflammatory factor levels by modulating the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora species in ALI rats. Its mechanism of action in ameliorating ALI in rats may be related to the inhibition of inflammation, improvement of intestinal mucosal permeability, and maintenance of intestinal flora homeostasis and barrier through the p38 MAPK/MLCK signaling pathway.
Animals ; Acute Lung Injury/genetics* ; Rats ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase/genetics* ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Lung/metabolism* ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism* ; Humans