1.Application value of photon-counting detector CT in preoperative assessment of pancreatic cancer
Jingyi LIU ; Liang ZHU ; Chen LIN ; Jiashu HAN ; Chao ZHANG ; Yun WANG ; Mengzhe LYU ; Xi ZHAO ; Weibin WANG ; Feng FENG
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2025;59(12):1369-1376
Objective:To investigate the application value of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) in preoperative identification of critical anatomical structures and surgical assessment in pancreatic cancer, and to compare its performance with conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) in delineating tumor margins, vascular structures, and neural anatomy.Methods:This single-center retrospective matched case-control study included 25 patients with pathologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent PCD-CT enhanced scanning and curative surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between February and June 2025 (PCD-CT group). These patients were matched in a 1∶2 ratio to 50 patients who underwent EID-CT between January 2016 and December 2024 and subsequently received curative surgery (EID-CT group). Tumor boundary clarity, vascular visualization scores, and neural structure visibility were subjectively evaluated using the Likert scoring system. The assessed vessels included the celiac artery, common hepatic artery, superior mesenteric artery, splenic artery, portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, splenic vein, and pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcade. Imaging-based assessment of structural involvement was compared with intraoperative findings and pathological results to calculate diagnostic accuracy. Surgeons rated the usefulness of PCD-CT images for identifying key structures and determining resectability using a 5-point Likert scale. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for group comparisons of subjective scores, and categorical data were analyzed using the χ2 test or Fisher exact test. Results:The PCD-CT group showed significantly higher scores for tumor boundary clarity, vascular visualization, and neural structure detectability than those of the EID-CT group (all P<0.05). The accuracy of assessing superior mesenteric vein involvement was 96.0% (24/25) in the PCD-CT group and 72.0% (36/50) in the EID-CT group, with a significant difference ( χ2=6.00, P=0.014). Postoperative surgeon evaluations indicated that PCD-CT provided substantial assistance for both key structure identification [5 (5, 5)] and resectability assessment [5 (4, 5)]. Conclusion:PCD-CT demonstrates superior performance over EID-CT in preoperative delineation of tumor margins, vascular structures, and neural anatomy and in the assessment of structural involvement in pancreatic cancer. It provides valuable anatomical information to support preoperative evaluation and surgical decision-making.
2.Application value of photon-counting detector CT in preoperative assessment of pancreatic cancer
Jingyi LIU ; Liang ZHU ; Chen LIN ; Jiashu HAN ; Chao ZHANG ; Yun WANG ; Mengzhe LYU ; Xi ZHAO ; Weibin WANG ; Feng FENG
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2025;59(12):1369-1376
Objective:To investigate the application value of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) in preoperative identification of critical anatomical structures and surgical assessment in pancreatic cancer, and to compare its performance with conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) in delineating tumor margins, vascular structures, and neural anatomy.Methods:This single-center retrospective matched case-control study included 25 patients with pathologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent PCD-CT enhanced scanning and curative surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between February and June 2025 (PCD-CT group). These patients were matched in a 1∶2 ratio to 50 patients who underwent EID-CT between January 2016 and December 2024 and subsequently received curative surgery (EID-CT group). Tumor boundary clarity, vascular visualization scores, and neural structure visibility were subjectively evaluated using the Likert scoring system. The assessed vessels included the celiac artery, common hepatic artery, superior mesenteric artery, splenic artery, portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, splenic vein, and pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcade. Imaging-based assessment of structural involvement was compared with intraoperative findings and pathological results to calculate diagnostic accuracy. Surgeons rated the usefulness of PCD-CT images for identifying key structures and determining resectability using a 5-point Likert scale. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for group comparisons of subjective scores, and categorical data were analyzed using the χ2 test or Fisher exact test. Results:The PCD-CT group showed significantly higher scores for tumor boundary clarity, vascular visualization, and neural structure detectability than those of the EID-CT group (all P<0.05). The accuracy of assessing superior mesenteric vein involvement was 96.0% (24/25) in the PCD-CT group and 72.0% (36/50) in the EID-CT group, with a significant difference ( χ2=6.00, P=0.014). Postoperative surgeon evaluations indicated that PCD-CT provided substantial assistance for both key structure identification [5 (5, 5)] and resectability assessment [5 (4, 5)]. Conclusion:PCD-CT demonstrates superior performance over EID-CT in preoperative delineation of tumor margins, vascular structures, and neural anatomy and in the assessment of structural involvement in pancreatic cancer. It provides valuable anatomical information to support preoperative evaluation and surgical decision-making.
3.Functional magnetic resonance imaging study on abnormal dynamic functional connectivity of cerebral hemisphere in patients with internet gaming disorder
Longyao MA ; Yong ZHANG ; Mengzhe ZHANG ; Xiaoyu NIU ; Yimeng KANG ; Weijian WANG ; Jingliang CHENG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2024;33(11):967-973
Objective:To explore the dynamic temporal variability of brain functional networks in individuals with internet gaming disorder(IGD)using dynamic functional connectivity density(dFCD).Methods:From January 2019 to December 2021, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were recruited from 55 patients with IGD and demographically matched 50 healthy controls.Data analysis was performed by IBM SPSS 21.0 software. The functional connectivity density(FCD) combined with sliding window analysis was employed to calculate the temporal variability of global functional connectivity.FCD in whole brain was further devided into ipsilateral and cotralateral parts.The temporal variability of dFCD was further quantified utilizing the standard deviations of whole brain, intra-, and inter-hemispheric FCD. Finally, Pearson correlation analysis was performed between dFCD variance in differential brain regions and clinical behaviors.Results:The inter-hemispheric dFCD in the left posterior cingulate cortex(-0.16±0.24) and the left precuneus(-0.08±0.23) in patients with IGD were lower that those in healthy controls(0.002±0.260, 0.12±0.36)( t=-3.502, -4.160, both P<0.05).And the intra-hemispheric dFCD in the left calcarine, the left precuneus, and the left posterior cingulate cortex in patients with IGD were lower that those in healthy controls( t=-3.809, -4.360, -3.561, all P<0.05).Moreover, abnormal global dFCD variability of the calcarine and ipsilateral dFCD variability of the PCC negatively correlated with the severity of IGD( r=-0.380, -0.413, both P<0.05). Conclusion:Patients with IGD show intra-and inter-hemispheric dFCD differences in the visual attention network and default mode network, which may respond to the underlying neurobiological basis for the presence of cognitive dysfunction and impaired concentration.
4.Soy isoflavones alleviates calcium overload in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion by inhibiting the Wnt/Ca2+signaling pathway
Li LI ; Mengzhe WANG ; Saisai LIU ; Xiaonan ZHANG ; Jie CHEN ; Weiting TAO ; Shai LI ; Zhiwen QING ; Quanfang TAO ; Yi LIU ; Li HUANG ; Shidi ZHAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(6):1048-1058
Objective To explore the mechanism by which soybean isoflavone(SI)reduces calcium overload induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R).Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomized into 4 groups to receive sham operation,cerebral middle artery occlusion for 2 h followed by 24 h of reperfusion(I/R model group),or injection of adeno-associated virus carrying Frizzled-2 siRNA or empty viral vector into the lateral cerebral ventricle after modeling.Western blotting was used to examine Frizzled-2 knockdown efficiency and changes in protein expressions in the Wnt/Ca2+signaling pathway.Calcium levels and pathological changes in the ischemic penumbra(IP)were measured using calcium chromogenic assay and HE staining,respectively.Another 72 SD randomly allocated for sham operation,I/R modeling,or soy isoflavones pretreatment before modeling were examined for regional cerebral blood flow using a Doppler flowmeter,and the cerebral infarct volume was assessed using TTC staining.Pathologies in the IP area were evaluated using HE and Nissl staining,and ROS level,Ca2+level,cell apoptosis,and intracellular calcium concentration were analyzed using immunofluorescence assay or flow cytometry;the protein expressions of Wnt5a,Frizzled-2,and P-CaMK II in the IP were detected with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.Results In rats with cerebral I/R,Frizzled-2 knockdown significantly lowered calcium concentration(P<0.001)and the expression levels of Wnt5a,Frizzled-2,and P-CaMK II in the IP area.In soy isoflavones-pretreated rats,calcium concentration,ROS and MDA levels,cell apoptosis rate,cerebral infarct volume,and expression levels of Wnt/Ca2+signaling pathway-related proteins were all significantly lower while SOD level was higher than those in rats in I/R model group.Conclusion Soy isoflavones can mitigate calcium overload in rats with cerebral I/R by inhibiting the Wnt/Ca2+signaling pathway.
5.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study on the interaction effects between smoking addiction and weight status on brain activity
Mengzhe ZHANG ; Xiaoyu NIU ; Jinghan DANG ; Jieping SUN ; Weijian WANG ; Jingliang CHENG ; Yong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2024;33(3):240-245
Objective:To explore the interaction effects on brain activity between the smoking addiction and weight status by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.Methods:Retrospective analysis of clinical data and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed from 99 recruited subjects from January 2019 to December 2021. All participants were divided into four groups: overweight smokers ( n=24), normal-weight smokers ( n=28), overweight non-smokers ( n=19), and normal weight non-smokers ( n=28). Calculate regional homogeneity (ReHo) to reflect the internal brain activity of the subjects. Two-way ANOVA was used to detect the interaction effects between smoking addiction and overweight on ReHo by SPM12 software, correcting for age, years of education and head motion. Results:The interaction effect between smoking addiction and overweight on ReHo was significant in right superior frontal gyrus(x, y, z=15, 9, 60)(GRF corrected, Pvoxel<0.005, Pcluster<0.05). The ReHo value in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight smokers was significantly higher than that of normal weight smokers ( t=3.768, P<0.001, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight non-smokers were significantly lower than those of normal weight non-smokers ( t=-3.242, P=0.002, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyurs of normal-weight smokers were significantly lower than those of normal weight non-smokers( t=-3.540, P=0.001, Bonferroni corrected). The ReHo values in the right superior frontal gyrus of overweight smokers were significantly higher than those of overweight non-smokers ( t=3.392, P=0.002, Bonferroni corrected). Correlation analyses showed that the strengthen ReHo value in right superior frontal gyrus was positively associated with pack-year in smoking addicts( r=0.387, P=0.007, Bonferroni corrected). Conclusion:Smoking addiction and overweight have an antagonistic effect on brain activity in the right superior frontal gyrus, which may provide potential therapeutic targets for individuals with comorbidity of smoking addiction and overweight.
6.Soy isoflavones alleviates calcium overload in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion by inhibiting the Wnt/Ca2+signaling pathway
Li LI ; Mengzhe WANG ; Saisai LIU ; Xiaonan ZHANG ; Jie CHEN ; Weiting TAO ; Shai LI ; Zhiwen QING ; Quanfang TAO ; Yi LIU ; Li HUANG ; Shidi ZHAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(6):1048-1058
Objective To explore the mechanism by which soybean isoflavone(SI)reduces calcium overload induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R).Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomized into 4 groups to receive sham operation,cerebral middle artery occlusion for 2 h followed by 24 h of reperfusion(I/R model group),or injection of adeno-associated virus carrying Frizzled-2 siRNA or empty viral vector into the lateral cerebral ventricle after modeling.Western blotting was used to examine Frizzled-2 knockdown efficiency and changes in protein expressions in the Wnt/Ca2+signaling pathway.Calcium levels and pathological changes in the ischemic penumbra(IP)were measured using calcium chromogenic assay and HE staining,respectively.Another 72 SD randomly allocated for sham operation,I/R modeling,or soy isoflavones pretreatment before modeling were examined for regional cerebral blood flow using a Doppler flowmeter,and the cerebral infarct volume was assessed using TTC staining.Pathologies in the IP area were evaluated using HE and Nissl staining,and ROS level,Ca2+level,cell apoptosis,and intracellular calcium concentration were analyzed using immunofluorescence assay or flow cytometry;the protein expressions of Wnt5a,Frizzled-2,and P-CaMK II in the IP were detected with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.Results In rats with cerebral I/R,Frizzled-2 knockdown significantly lowered calcium concentration(P<0.001)and the expression levels of Wnt5a,Frizzled-2,and P-CaMK II in the IP area.In soy isoflavones-pretreated rats,calcium concentration,ROS and MDA levels,cell apoptosis rate,cerebral infarct volume,and expression levels of Wnt/Ca2+signaling pathway-related proteins were all significantly lower while SOD level was higher than those in rats in I/R model group.Conclusion Soy isoflavones can mitigate calcium overload in rats with cerebral I/R by inhibiting the Wnt/Ca2+signaling pathway.
7.Analysis of the interactive effects between smoking addiction and overweight on brain gray matter volume
Mengzhe ZHANG ; Xiaoyu NIU ; Jinghan DANG ; Jieping SUN ; Weijian WANG ; Jingliang CHENG ; Yong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(7):433-439
Objective:To investigate the correlation between brain gray matter volume (GMV) and interactive effects of smoking addiction and overweight.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 99 subjects recruited from January 2019 to December 2021 through online platforms such as WeChat, including the following four groups: overweight smoking addiction group ( n=24), normal-weight smoking addiction group ( n=28), overweight non-smoking group ( n=19), and normal-weight non-smoking group ( n=28). All subjects underwent 3.0T MRI. We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to compare gray matter volume (GMV) among the four groups. A two-way analysis of variance was conducted with age, years of education, and head motion as covariates to explore the interaction effects between smoking addiction and weight status on GMV, the main effect of smoking addiction and main effect of overweight, which were then correlated with clinical data. Results:Significant interactive effects of smoking addiction and overweight were observed in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed a quadratic effect between body mass index and left DLPFC GMV (β=-3.846, t=-2.134, P=0.036). Additionally, the main effect of smoking addiction was primarily manifested in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)(GRF corrected, P voxel<0.001, P cluster<0.05). Left OFC GMV was negatively associated with the FTND (Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence) scores ( r=-0.391, P=0.006). And right OFC GMV was negatively correlated with the smoking index ( r=-0.335, P=0.019). No statistically significant main effect of overweight was found at the aforementioned threshold. Conclusion:Smoking addiction and overweight have antagonistic effects on left DLPFC GMV.
8.The dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity in individuals with internet gaming disorder: a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Xiaoyu NIU ; Xinyu GAO ; Mengzhe ZHANG ; Jinghan DANG ; Jieping SUN ; Weijian WANG ; Yong ZHANG ; Jingliang CHENG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(2):87-93
Objective:This study aims to investigate the dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity and their relationships with Internet Addiction Test (IAT) scores in individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD).Methods:Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning was performed on 33 individuals with IGD (IGD group) who were admitted to the psychiatric department of First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and 40 healthy volunteers (control group) recruited through the online platform. The dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo) values were calculated. The two-sample t test was used to analyze the differences of dReHo values between two groups (Gaussian random field corrected, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). Spearman correlation analyses were used to analyze the correlations between IAT scores and dReHo values of brain regions with statistically significant differences between IGD group and control group. Results:Compared with the control group, the IGD group showed increased dReHo values in the right thalamus, right caudate nucleus, left putamen, bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus, bilateral supplementary motor area, and bilateral superior frontal gyrus ( t=3.84-4.94, Gaussian random field corrected, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). The dReHo value in the right medial superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with IAT scores ( r=0.395, P=0.023) in IGD group. Conclusion:Individuals with IGD exhibited a wide range of abnormal dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity in pivotal regions associated with reward processing and cognitive control functions (the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit), providing new insights into the underlying neural mechanisms of IGD.
9.Analysis of the interactive effects between smoking addiction and overweight on brain gray matter volume
Mengzhe ZHANG ; Xiaoyu NIU ; Jinghan DANG ; Jieping SUN ; Weijian WANG ; Jingliang CHENG ; Yong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(7):433-439
Objective:To investigate the correlation between brain gray matter volume (GMV) and interactive effects of smoking addiction and overweight.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 99 subjects recruited from January 2019 to December 2021 through online platforms such as WeChat, including the following four groups: overweight smoking addiction group ( n=24), normal-weight smoking addiction group ( n=28), overweight non-smoking group ( n=19), and normal-weight non-smoking group ( n=28). All subjects underwent 3.0T MRI. We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to compare gray matter volume (GMV) among the four groups. A two-way analysis of variance was conducted with age, years of education, and head motion as covariates to explore the interaction effects between smoking addiction and weight status on GMV, the main effect of smoking addiction and main effect of overweight, which were then correlated with clinical data. Results:Significant interactive effects of smoking addiction and overweight were observed in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed a quadratic effect between body mass index and left DLPFC GMV (β=-3.846, t=-2.134, P=0.036). Additionally, the main effect of smoking addiction was primarily manifested in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)(GRF corrected, P voxel<0.001, P cluster<0.05). Left OFC GMV was negatively associated with the FTND (Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence) scores ( r=-0.391, P=0.006). And right OFC GMV was negatively correlated with the smoking index ( r=-0.335, P=0.019). No statistically significant main effect of overweight was found at the aforementioned threshold. Conclusion:Smoking addiction and overweight have antagonistic effects on left DLPFC GMV.
10.The dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity in individuals with internet gaming disorder: a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Xiaoyu NIU ; Xinyu GAO ; Mengzhe ZHANG ; Jinghan DANG ; Jieping SUN ; Weijian WANG ; Yong ZHANG ; Jingliang CHENG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(2):87-93
Objective:This study aims to investigate the dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity and their relationships with Internet Addiction Test (IAT) scores in individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD).Methods:Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning was performed on 33 individuals with IGD (IGD group) who were admitted to the psychiatric department of First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and 40 healthy volunteers (control group) recruited through the online platform. The dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo) values were calculated. The two-sample t test was used to analyze the differences of dReHo values between two groups (Gaussian random field corrected, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). Spearman correlation analyses were used to analyze the correlations between IAT scores and dReHo values of brain regions with statistically significant differences between IGD group and control group. Results:Compared with the control group, the IGD group showed increased dReHo values in the right thalamus, right caudate nucleus, left putamen, bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus, bilateral supplementary motor area, and bilateral superior frontal gyrus ( t=3.84-4.94, Gaussian random field corrected, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). The dReHo value in the right medial superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with IAT scores ( r=0.395, P=0.023) in IGD group. Conclusion:Individuals with IGD exhibited a wide range of abnormal dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity in pivotal regions associated with reward processing and cognitive control functions (the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit), providing new insights into the underlying neural mechanisms of IGD.

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