1.Photon-counting detector CT with virtual monoenergetic imaging in enabling a quadruple low-dose aortic CT angiography protocol: a feasibility study
Ke QI ; Kehui NIE ; Dian YUAN ; Yicun ZHANG ; Mengyuan ZHANG ; Weiting ZHANG ; Yanbo GU ; Yan CHEN ; Jianbo GAO ; Jie LIU
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2025;59(10):1133-1141
Objective:To assess the viability of reducing radiation dose, contrast media volume, injection flow rate and contrast medium concentration (quadruple low-dose protocol) by utilizing virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) in photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) for aortic CT angiography (CTA), while maintaining image quality in comparison to images obtained from energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT).Methods:From April 2024 to June 2024, a total of 40 participants who underwent aortic CTA on PCD-CT were prospectively enrolled in the experimental group (PCD-CT group), while 40 patients with similar baseline characteristics who had previously undergone aortic CTA using EID-CT were retrospectively selected for the conventional group (EID-CT group). The EID-CT group used a tube voltage of 90 kVp, a contrast media volume of 60 ml of contrast, an injection flow rate of 3 ml/s, and a contrast concentration of 350 mgI/ml; the PCD-CT group used the QuantumPlus mode, with a tube voltage of 140 kVp, a total amount of iodine in the contrast media of 140 mgI/kg, and an injection flow rate=contrast media volume/(delay time+scan time), and a contrast media concentration of 320 mgI/ml. VMIs in PCD-CT group were reconstructed in 5-keV intervals ranging from 45 to 65 keV. The effective radiation dose and contrast injection protocols were recorded and compared between two groups. Objective image quality assessment was performed for each group. CT attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured at five anatomical locations (ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta, abdominal aorta, and right common iliac artery), and image noise was recorded. Subjective image quality was independently evaluated by two readers using a 5-point Likert scale in a blinded manner. Based on data normality, the one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test was used for image quality assessment, with Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc analysis for multiple comparisons.Results:There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between two groups (all P0.05). The PCD-CT group demonstrated significantly lower effective radiation dose [(3.88±0.65) mSv vs. (5.97±1.15)mSv], contrast media volume [(29.25±4.56) ml vs. 60 ml], and injection rate [(2.65±0.42) ml/s vs. 3 ml/s] than the EID-CT group, with reductions of 35%, 51%, and 12%, respectively (all P0.001). For objective image quality, except for the ascending aortic CT attenuation, the CT attenuation, SNR, and CNR of other vessels in the 55 keV PCD-CT group were comparable to those in the EID-CT group. Additionally, the difference in image noise between these two groups was not statistically significant ( P0.05). Concerning subjective image quality, at 55 keV, the PCD-CT group had similar image noise scores and vessel attenuation scores (both P0.05) and better visualization of renal artery branching ( P=0.001) compared to the EID-CT group. Conclusion:In comparison to EID-CT, the use of a 55 keV image in PCD-CT for aortic CTA has demonstrated reductions in radiation dose, contrast media volume, injection flow rate and contrast medium concentration, while maintaining image quality.
2.Feasibility study of photon counting CT combined with “quadruple lows” technology in head and neck vascular imaging
Mengyuan ZHANG ; Kehui NIE ; Dian YUAN ; Yicun ZHANG ; Ke QI ; Weiting ZHANG ; Yanbo GU ; Yan CHEN ; Jianbo GAO ; Jie LIU
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2025;59(8):942-948
Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of head and neck vascular imaging using photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) combined with a “quadruple lows” protocol—characterized by low contrast media volume, low iodine concentration, low injection rate, and low radiation dose—and to compare the image quality with that obtained by energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT).Methods:A total of 105 patients with suspected cerebrovascular disease were prospectively enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between April and June 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups ( n=35). Group A underwent conventional head and neck CTA using EID-CT. Group B underwent PCD-CT with a protocol involving ultra-low contrast media volume, low iodine concentration, and low injection rate. Group C underwent PCD-CT with the full “quadruple low” protocol. Objective image quality parameters—including CT attenuation, image noise (standard deviation, SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)—were measured at the ascending aorta, common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, vertebral artery, basilar artery, posterior cerebral artery, and middle cerebral artery. Two radiologists independently rated subjective image quality using a 5-point Likert scale. Differences among groups were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results:Compared to Group A [contrast volume: (42.78±6.64)ml], contrast agent volume was significantly reduced in Groups B and C[ (26.26±4.45) ml and (26.54±3.83)ml, respectively], demonstrating reductions of 39% and 38% (both P<0.01). The iodine concentration was 320 mg/ml in Groups B and C, lower than 350 mg/ml in Group A (8.5%). The injection rate was also reduced in Groups B and C [(3.39±0.61) and (3.55±0.51)ml/s, respectively] compared to Group A [(4.28±0.66) ml/s], with reductions of 21% and 17% (both P<0.01). The effective dose (ED) was similar between Groups A and B [(1.40±0.15) vs. (1.40±0.19)mSv, P>0.05], while Group C demonstrated a significantly lower ED [(0.99±0.09) mSv], with a reduction of 30% compared to Group A and 29% compared to Group B (both P<0.01).In terms of objective image quality, significant differences in image noise (SD) were observed among the three groups at the vertebral artery, internal carotid artery, posterior cerebral artery, and middle cerebral artery (all P<0.05). Groups B and C showed significantly lower SD compared to Group A ( P<0.05), with no significant difference between B and C ( P>0.05). SNR was significantly higher in Groups B and C than in Group A at multiple vascular segments (all P<0.05). CNR differed only at the internal carotid artery, where Groups B and C demonstrated superior performance compared to Group A ( P<0.05).Subjective image quality scores showed no significant difference between Groups A and C ( P>0.05), while Group B had significantly higher scores than both A and C ( P<0.05). All images were deemed diagnostically acceptable. Conclusion:Compared with conventional EID-CT, PCD-CT combined with a “quadruple lows” protocol enables substantial reductions in contrast media and radiation dose while further improving image quality in head and neck CTA.
3.Photon-counting detector-CT combined with"four-lows"protocol for coronary CT angiography
Weiting ZHANG ; Kehui NIE ; Dian YUAN ; Yicun ZHANG ; Ke QI ; Mengyuan ZHANG ; Yanbo GU ; Yan CHEN ; Jianbo GAO ; Yonggao ZHANG ; Jie LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(6):976-980
Objective To observe the feasibility of photon-counting detector(PCD)-CT combined with"four-lows"protocol(low contrast agent concentration,low contrast dose,low contrast agent flow rate,low radiation dose)for coronary CT angiography(CCTA).Methods Totally 106 patients with suspected coronary artery disease were prospectively enrolled and randomized into energy-integrating detector(EID)-CCTA(group A,using conventional scanning protocol,n=52)or PCD-CCTA(group B,using"four-lows"scanning protocol,n=54)groups and underwent relative examinations.The radiation dose,subjective and objective evaluation results of imaging quality were compared between groups.Results The contrast agent dose and flow rate,volume CT dose index,dose length product and effective dose in group B were all lower than those in group A(all P<0.001).The subjective scores in group B were higher than in group A(5[4,5]vs.4[4,5],Z=-2.310,P=0.021).Compared with group A,CT value,signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of aortic root and most of the main branches of coronary arteries increased in group B,while standard deviation of CT value decreased(all P<0.05).Conclusion PCD-CT combined with"four-lows"protocol could be used for CCTA,which could improve imaging quality and reduce contrast agent usage and radiation dose.
4.Research on the design and application value of a simulation system for surgical operation based on virtual reality technique and intelligent scoring function
Long LI ; Qingbo WANG ; Yubo LIANG ; Jin LI ; Wanling LUO ; Xingming CHEN ; Yang DUAN ; Zhiyi TANG ; Shengjie NIE ; Yang KE
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(5):28-32
Objective:To design a set of simulation system for surgical operation based on virtual reality(VR)technique and intelligent scoring functions,so as to assess its clinical application effect.Methods:The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine(DICOM)images of typical patients were collected.Materialise Interactive Medical Image Control System(MIMICS)software was adopted to reconstruct the three-dimensional(3D)model of diseased organs.Surgical instrument models were constructed by using 3D Max software.Unity 3D software was adopted to construct simulation system for surgical operation with VR+intelligent scoring.A total of 40 surgical resident physicians,who were employed with 3 years since 2019 in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University,were selected.They were divided into observation group and control group,with 20 cases in each group.The observation group used simulation system for surgical operation to conduct intelligent scoring for cholecystectomy under laparoscope,and the control group used conventional scoring for surgical operation.The scores of surgical operation and test between the two groups were compared.Results:The mean value of surgical operation time of the observation group was(1.72±0.41)h,and the average incidence of complication was(0.03±0.02)%,both of them of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group[(2.25±0.42)h and(0.05±0.03)%].The differences of them between two groups were statistically significant(t=9.00,4.08,P<0.05).The test scores of surgical operation of the observation group was also significantly higher than that of the control group(t=5.26,P<0.001).Conclusion:The developed simulation system for surgical operation with VR+intelligent scoring can significantly enhance users'surgical operation skills and improve learning outcomes,which has favorable prospects in future applications.
5.Analysis on the TCM Syndrome Characteristics of Aging in Female Insomnia Patients
Ke NIE ; Ying CHEN ; Juanjuan AI ; Weiwei ZHONG ; Deyu YANG ; Rujin ZHENG ; Xin SONG ; Wenzheng ZHANG ; Lifeng YUE
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(12):148-153
Objective To analyze the characteristics of TCM symptoms of aging in female insomnia patients;To provide syndrome differentiation evidence for clinical prevention and treatment of female aging.Methods A cross-sectional study method was used to include female insomnia patients who attended outpatient clinics at Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Beijing Changping District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from August 2021 to July 2024.The patients'clinical information was collected,and frequency analysis,factor analysis,and clustering analysis of the relevant clinical information of the 107 female insomnia patients were conducted,which,together with the experts'opinions,resulted in characteristics of TCM syndrome elements and syndrome distribution of aging in female insomnia patients.Results Totally 20 core items were screened and 7 common factors were obtained from the factor analysis.There were 5 types of syndrome elements of disease location associated with aging symptoms in female patients with insomnia,including heart,liver,spleen,kidney and lung;and there were 7 types of syndrome elements of disease property,including qi deficiency,yin deficiency,qi stagnation,blood deficiency,heat,phlegm,and dampness.There were 4 types of syndromes were obtained from the systematic clustering,including heart-kidney disharmony syndrome,heart-liver stagnation syndrome,spleen deficiency and qi stagnation syndrome,lung-spleen qi deficiency syndrome.Conclusion By analyzing the TCM syndrome characteristics of aging symptoms in female patients with insomnia,four types of syndromes are obtained.The heart-kidney disharmony syndrome is the common syndrome.The internal relationship between insomnia and aging process in female patients with insomnia is revealed from the perspective of pathogenesis,which can provide a research basis for the clinical practice of TCM anti-aging guided by syndrome differentiation and treatment in the future.
6.Meta analysis of the relationship between maternal adverse childhood experiences and offspring maladaptive social behaviors
XIAO Lü ; man*, NIE Xiaofei, KE Li, JIANG Shiying, LIU Bing
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(10):1381-1386
Objective:
To systematically evaluate the association between maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and offspring social behavior, so as to provide a theoretical basis for further research on intergenerational social behavioral development.
Methods:
Relevant research literature about maternal ACEs and the development of children s maladaptive social behaviors were collected, from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wanfang, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase and SpringLink databases, covering the period from the inception of each database to May 2025. The Chinese database matched and searched through three groups of keywords: "Pregnant women" "Mothers" and "Women"; "Bad childhood experience" "Bad early experience" and "Bad adolescent experience"; "Children" "Teenagers" "Children s behavior" "Children s development" "Teenagers behavior" "Internalized behavior" and "Externalized behavior". The English database was searched by three groups of keywords: "Female" "Pregnant women" "Mothers"; "Adverse childhood experiences" "Adverse early childhood experiences" "Adverse experiences of adolescent"; "Child behavior" "Child development" "Adolescent behavior" "Internalized behaviors" "Externalized behaviors". The selected literature was evaluated for quality and data extraction, with OR and 95% CI as effect indicators. Stata 16.0 software was used for heterogeneity testing, subgroup analysis, and publication bias analysis.
Results:
A total of 14 studies involving 64 302 mother-child pairs were included. The Meta analysis results showed a significant correlation between maternal ACEs and both offspring maladaptive internalized behaviors ( OR=1.75, 95%CI=1.42-2.15, P <0.01) and externalized behaviors ( OR=1.82, 95%CI=1.51-2.20, P <0.01). The results of subgroup analyses showed that in different regions[internalized behaviors:domestic, foreign OR (95% CI )=2.03(1.49-2.76), 1.55(1.19-2.03); externalized behaviors: domestic, foreign OR (95% CI )=2.41(1.52-3.82), 1.65(1.36-2.01)], study type[internalized behaviors: cohort study, cross sectional study OR (95% CI )=1.64(1.34-2.00), 1.85(1.30-2.65); externalized behaviors: cohort study, cross sectional study OR (95% CI )=1.76(1.46-2.12), 2.12(1.40-3.20)], sample size [internalized behaviors: ≥4 000, <4 000 pairs OR (95% CI )=1.69(1.13-2.55), 1.77( 1.41 -2.24); externalized behaviors: ≥3 000, <3 000 pairs OR (95% CI )=1.72(1.37-2.17), 2.13(1.44-3.15)], there were significant and positive association between mothers ACEs and children s internalizing and externalizing behaviors (all P <0.05).
Conclusion
A substantial positive association exists between maternal ACEs and the development of offspring maladaptive internalized and externalized behaviors, but the result needs to be continued to be validated by more research.
7.Causal relationship between immune cells and allergic rhinitis:a two-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization
Shixiang WEI ; Huiyong YU ; Lei LI ; Lianlian LIU ; Tianyang NIE ; Chuxi XIE ; Zile XIE ; Yinze KE ; Tianyun CHEN ; Chengxiang WANG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(14):39-44
Objective To explore the causal association between immune cells and allergic rhi-nitis using Mendelian randomization(MR)approach.Methods GWAS data for 731 types of im-mune cells and allergic rhinitis were obtained from genome-wide association study(GWAS)databas-es.A two-sample bidirectional MR analysis was conducted,with the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method as the primary analytical approach,and the weighted median method,MR-Egger re-gression,simple mode method,and weighted mode method as supplementary approaches.Sensitivity analyses,including heterogeneity tests,pleiotropy tests,and the leave-one-out method,were per-formed.Bonferroni correction was applied to the preliminary results to enhance their reliability and rigor.Results The two-sample forward MR analysis revealed correlations between 67 immune cell phenotypes and allergic rhinitis.After Bonferroni correction,four immune cell phenotypes were finally identified.Among them,the expression of CD3 on CD39-positive activated CD4 regulatory T cells(OR=0.953,95%CI,0.931 to 0.978,P<0.001,Padj=0.007),the expression of herpesvirus entry mediator(HVEM)on CD45RA-negative CD4+T cells(OR=0.965,95%CI,0.948 to 0.983,P<0.001,Padj=0.008),and the percentage of human leukocyte antigen class DR(HLA-DR)-high-expressing monocytes among leukocytes(OR=0.929,95%CI,0.885 to 0.974,P=0.002,Padj=0.157)were protective factors for allergic rhinitis.In contrast,the percentage of transitional B cells among B cells(OR=1.094,95%CI,1.032 to 1.161,P=0.003,Padj=0.183)was a risk factor for allergic rhinitis.The reverse MR analysis showed no causal relationship between allergic rhinitis and the four immune cell phenotypes.Conclusion The two-sample forward MR analysis confirms a caus-al link between immune cells and allergic rhinitis.MR analysis has the advantages of reducing con-founding factor interference and avoiding reverse causation,providing a theoretical basis for in-depth research on immune mechanisms,sensitive biomarkers,and drug treatment targets of allergic rhinitis.
8.Studies on the Design and Activity of Anticancer Peptides Based on the Weak Acidic Microenvironment of Tumors
Yue-Qi NIE ; Miao JIANG ; Hui-Yan WU ; Chang-Hao DING ; Wei REN ; Jun-Yi CHANG ; Ke CHEN ; Shao-Long DU ; Peng ZHANG ; Zhong-Hua LIU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1380-1391
Lung cancer poses a serious threat to global public health security.Chemotherapy,as the main strategy for cancer treatment,faces challenges such as high toxicity and drug resistance.Anticancer peptides have the potential of being developed into new anticancer drugs due to their advantages of broad-spectrum anticancer activity,rapid action,and difficulty in generating drug resistance,but they also face shortcomings such as weak activity and strong toxic side effects.The weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors(pH 6.5-6.8)provides a good idea for the design of anticancer peptides of high-efficiency and low-toxicity.Previously,we designed the acid-sensitive antibacterial peptide pHly-1 using the wolf spider(Lycosa singoriensis)toxin Lycosin-Ⅰ as a template.In this study,we found that pHly-1 also had acid-sensitive anticancer activity.Further alanine scanning analysis of pHly-1 was carried out,and we ob-tained a mutant pHTP-2 with better acid sensitivity,whose IC50(half maximal inhibitory concentration)against A549 cells was 15.68 μmol/L at pH 6.6 and was greater than 100 μmol/L at pH 7.4.At pH 6.6,pHTP-2 could act on various lung cancer cell lines and induce the death of A549 cells by rapid ly-sis;at pH 7.4,500 μmol/L pHTP-2 had weak toxicity to red blood cells(the hemolysis rate was ap-proximately 38%)and primary myocardial cells(the inhibition rate was 49.7%,with P<0.05).Analy-sis of its charge,particle size,morphology,and secondary structure showed that at pH 6.6,the histidine in the sequence of pHTP-2 was protonated,increasing the positive charge(P<0.01),decreasing the hy-drated particle size(P<0.05)and forming an α-helical structure to induce membrane lysis of A549 cells.At pH 7.4,it was deprotonated,the positive charge decreases,a β-sheet structure was formed and self-aggregation occurred,limiting its effect on the A549 cell membrane and showing weak activity.In summary,pHTP-2 could respond to the weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors to exert selective cyto-toxic activity,effectively overcoming the shortcomings of anticancer peptides such as low efficiency and high toxicity.Our findings suggest that it is a high-quality lead molecule for anticancer drugs.
9.Latent class analysis of symptoms related to psychological trauma in patients with pregnancy loss
Wenjun FU ; Lintao NIE ; Juan DING ; Qingqing SHAO ; Ke ZHAO ; Xiujuan WANG
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2025;45(5):509-515
Objective:To explore latent class of symptoms related to psychological trauma and characteristics in patients with pregnancy loss, and to analyze the related influencing factors.Methods:From July 2022 to June 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to select 709 cases of pregnancy loss patients who visited the Maternity Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University as the survey subjects. The survey was conducted using the general information questionnaire, the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) self-assessment scale, the hospital anxiety and depression scale, and the pittsburgh sleep index scale. Exploratory latent class analysis (LCA) of symptoms related to psychological trauma was performed by Mplus8.3, and then multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the factors influencing the latent classes.Results:A total of 691 patients with pregnancy loss were eventually investigated, with a total PTSD score of 24.00 (19.00, 33.00), a total anxiety score of 6.00 (3.00, 9.00), a total depression score of 6.00 (3.00, 9.00), and a total sleep disorder score of 7.00 (4.00, 9.00). Symptoms related to psychological trauma could be classified into 3 potential categories named high symptom group [20.4% (141/691)], anxiety-depression group [15.3% (106/691)] and low symptom group [64.3% (444/691)]. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that per capita monthly household income >8 000 yuan ( OR=0.477, 95% CI: 0.272-0.835, P=0.010) and having a spouse accompanying the patient at the time of admission ( OR=0.352, 95% CI: 0.234-0.532, P<0.001) were protective factors for the high symptom group, and gestational week≥28 weeks ( OR=3.192, 95% CI: 1.619-6.292, P=0.001) and assisted reproductive pregnancy ( OR=1.877, 95% CI: 1.075-3.277, P=0.027) were risk factors for the high symptom group. Conclusion:Symptoms associated with psychological trauma in patients with pregnancy loss have distinct categorical characteristics, and healthcare professionals should focus on patients with pregnancy loss in the high symptom group during hospitalization, and adopt targeted interventions according to the symptoms related to psychological trauma in different categories of patients with pregnancy loss in order to avoid serious psychological problems.
10.Maintenance of Philips IQon Spectral CT System:Three case reports
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(11):115-117
The malfunctions of Philips IQon Spectral CT System were introduced in terms of image ring artifact,failure in gantry staring and low speed in image reconstruction,with the causes being analyzed and the elimination measures put forward.References were provided for treating similar failures.


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