Abstract: Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of viral hepatitis E in Fujian Province from 2012-2021, and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of hepatitis E in the future. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze hepatitis E cases in Fujian Province from 2012 to 2021. Results From 2012 to 2021, a total of 8 877 cases of hepatitis E were reported in Fujian Province from 2012-2021. The overall incidence rate showed a decreasing trend (χ2trend =458.14, P<0.001), with the lowest incidence rate of 1.32/100 000 in 2020 and an annual average incidence rate of 2.29/100 000 per year. The incidence was higher in winter and spring, with the months of March and April having the highest number of reported cases (2 146, 24.17%) and the fewest cases were reported in September (571, 6.43%). The difference in reported incidence rates between cities was statistically significant (χ2=1 877.75, P<0.01). The comprehensive experimental zone of Pingtan had the highest average reported incidence rate of 6.03/100 000, while Zhangzhou had the lowest at 0.94/100 000. The number of male cases was higher than the number of female cases, with a male to female ratio of 2.04∶1. The disease was most prevalent among middle-aged and elderly individuals, with the age group of 40-<65 years having the highest number of reported cases, accounting for 57.44% (5 099/8 877) of all cases. The age group of 50-<55 years had the highest reported incidence, with the number of reported cases increasing with age below 50 years, but decreasing with age over 50 years. As for occupational distribution, peasants had the highest proportion of the disease, accounting for 34.49% (3 062 cases) of the total cases. Conclusions The reported incidence rate of hepatitis E in Fujian showed a downward from 2012 to 2021. Due to the impact of COVID-19, incidence of the lowest was 2020, but it did not reflect the true situation of the disease, which may have affected trend of hepatitis E. In order to control and reduce the incidence of hepatitis E, efforts should be made to increase publicity and education on health knowledge and vaccination among key areas and populations, strengthen monitoring and diagnostic capability, and implement comprehensive prevention and control measures.

Objective: To clinically validate the feasibility and accuracy of cine images acquired through the multitasking method, with no electrocardiogram gating and free-breathing, in measuring left ventricular (LV) function indices by comparing them with those acquired through the balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) method, with multiple breath-holds and electrocardiogram gating. Materials and Methods: Forty-three healthy volunteers (female:male, 30:13; mean age, 23.1 ± 2.3 years) and 36 patients requiring an assessment of LV function for various clinical indications (female:male, 22:14; 57.8 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the multiple breath-hold bSSFP method and free-breathing multitasking method. LV function parameters were measured for both MRI methods. Image quality was assessed through subjective image quality scores (1 to 5) and calculation of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between the myocardium and blood pool. Differences between the two MRI methods were analyzed using the Bland–Altman plot, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as appropriate. Results: LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly different between the two MRI methods (P = 0.222 in healthy volunteers and P = 0.343 in patients). LV end-diastolic mass was slightly overestimated with multitasking in both healthy volunteers (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 60.5 ± 10.7 g vs. 58.0 ± 10.4 g, respectively; P < 0.001) and patients (69.4 ± 18.1 g vs. 66.8 ± 18.0 g, respectively; P = 0.003). Acceptable and comparable image quality was achieved for both MRI methods (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.6 ± 0.6, respectively; P = 0.203). The CNR between the myocardium and blood pool showed no significant differences between the two MRI methods (18.89 ± 6.65 vs. 18.19 ± 5.83, respectively; P = 0.480). Conclusion Multitasking-derived cine images obtained without electrocardiogram gating and breath-holding achieved similar image quality and accurate quantification of LVEF in healthy volunteers and patients.

Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features of histological mixed-type early gastric cancer and to compare the endoscopic pathological features of dominant proportions.Methods:Clinical data of 43 patients with histological mixed-type early gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) at the Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The endoscopic characteristics, coincidence rate of preoperative diagnosis and postoperative pathology of the patients were analyzed. The endoscopic pathological findings of differentiation dominant group and undifferentiation dominant group were compared.Results:Histological mixed-type early gastric cancer was more common in patients over 60 years old (55.81%, 24/43) , male (65.12%, 28/43), and Helicobacter pylori ( HP) infection (69.77%, 30/43). Most lesions were found in atrophic background (79.07%, 34/43), and lower part of stomach (65.12%, 28/43). Redness or mixed redness was the main color (76.74%, 33/43), and 0-Ⅱc was the main type in lesion morphology (58.14%, 25/43). Characteristics of both differentiated and undifferentiated carcinoma could be observed under magnifying endoscopy. Only 16.28% (7/43) of the patients were diagnosed as having histological mixed-type carcinoma by biopsy. Postoperative pathology showed that there were 33 cases in differentiation dominant group and 10 cases in undifferentiation dominant group. There were 15 (34.88%) patients with deep submucosal infiltration, and 3 (6.98%) patients with positive lymphatic vessels. Differentiation dominant group had clearer demarcation line under endoscopy [78.79% (26/33) VS 4/10, χ2=7.753, P=0.012]. There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender, HP infection, background mucosa, lesion location, endoscopic morphology, lesion long diameter, color, or microscopic and microvascular manifestations under magnifying endoscopy ( P>0.05). Tub2+por was the most common pathological type in differentiation dominant group (78.79%, 26/33), and sig+tub2 was the dominant combination in undifferentiation dominant group (6/10). Endoscopic diagnosis of differentiated primary carcinoma was highly sensitive (93.94%, 31/33), and highly specific for undifferentiated primary carcinoma (94.28%, 33/35). Conclusion:Histological mixed-type early gastric cancer can be diagnosed qualitatively by endoscopy. It is difficult to accurately judge the differentiation advantage and the invasion depth before the operation, which is prone to postoperative pathological upgrading. Therefore, the indications should be strictly considered for ESD treatment for mixed-type early gastric cancer.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) values and Ki-67 labeling index of cervical squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:From October 2017 to December 2018, 24 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ] were prospectively enrolled in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and underwent pelvic morphological MRI on a 3.0 T MR scanner, including three-dimensional turbo-spin-echo APTw imaging and DWI. The maximum diameters of the lesions, APTw values and ADC values on the slice with the maximum diameter of the lesion were independently measured by two radiologists. The ICC was computed to evaluate the inter-observer consistency. Ki-67 immunohistochemical expression status was assessed by one pathologist. The Pearson correlation analysis was performed between the APTw values, maximum diameters, ADC values and Ki-67 labeling index.Results:The APTw values of cervical squamous cell carcinoma were (2.9±0.5)%. Inter-observer ICC was 0.972 (95%CI 0.937-0.988). The APTw values were positively moderately correlated with Ki-67 labeling index [(61.9±18.7)%, r=0.532, P=0.008]. The maximum diameters of the lesions were (28.7±10.6) mm. The mean ADC values were (0.998±0.217)×10 -3 mm 2/s. No correlations were found between maximum diameters, ADC values and Ki-67 labeling index ( r=0.038, P=0.859; r=0.238, P=0.263). Conclusion:APTw values can partially reveal the proliferation status of cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective:To study the intestinal mucosal state of ulcerative colitis (UC) through UC endoscopic scores and to investigate the correlation between the endoscopic scores and clinical activity and histological scores.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on data of 152 patients who underwent colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2014 to September 2019. The results were graded with 7 endoscopic scores, namely, Mayo endoscopic score(MES), modified Baron score(MBS), endoscopic activity index(EAI) , Sutherland index(DAI or UCDAI) , Rachmilewitz endoscopic index(REI), Lemann endoscopic index (LEI), and ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity(UCEIS). Spearman correlation coefficients between endoscopic score and partial Mayo scores, Truelove-Witts disease severity score and Nancy index (NI), Robarts index (RHI) and Geboes score (GS) were calculated respectively. Consistency of each endoscopic score among different observers was analyzed.Results:Except for the weak correlation between DAI and Truelove - Witts classification ( r= 0.469, P < 0.001), all other endoscopic scores were moderately positively correlated with clinical activity scores with significance( all P<0.001). However, the correlation between 7 endoscopic scores and histological scores was weak ( P<0.001). Except that the consistency of MBS among observers was medium, those of MES, DAI and LEI among observers were poor, and those of UCEIS, EAI and REI among observers were worse ( P<0.001). Conclusion:Endoscopic scores were moderately correlated with clinical activity indexes and weakly correlated with histological scores. However, patients with endoscopic remission may have histologic inflammatory activity, so attention should be paid to histological mucosal healing after endoscopic remission. The consistency of all 7 endoscopic scoring stystems among observers was low, and the repeatability was poor.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and cost-effectiveness of endoscopic resection and surgical resection for gastric schwannomas arising from the muscularis propria layer.Methods:Thirty-eight consecutive cases of gastric schwannomas diagnosed by histopathology between October 2011 and July 2016 were divided into the endoscopy group(including endoscopic submucosal excavation and endoscopic full-thickness resection) and the surgery group. Complications, complete resection rate and cost-effectiveness were analyzed.Results:The age was 52±10 years (range, 41-63 years) with 11(28.9%) males and 27(71.1%) females. The most common site of gastric schwannomas was the body (71.1%) and the antrum (21.1%). All 38(100%) lesions were protruded. The maximum diameter of the lesions was 2.5±1.2 cm (range 0.6-4.5 cm). Under endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), 60.5% lesions were heterogeneous hypoechoic, and 15 (39.5%) hypoechoic. The complete resection rate of endoscopy group was 100.0% (17/17). The median operation time of the endoscopy group was 54 minutes. Perforations occurred in 11 patients (64.7%, 11/17), and metal clips or the nylon rope combined with metallic clips were used to close the defect in the endoscopy group. Compared with the surgery group, the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter (4.6±0.6 d VS 9.6±4.4 d, P<0.001); the time to the first fluid diet was significantly shorter (1.2±0.4 d VS 2.7±0.7 d, P<0.001), and the costs were significantly lower (21 965.0±9 342.4 yuan VS 34 253.3±10 520.9 yuan, P<0.001) in the endoscopy group. S100 immunoreactivity was present in all tumors. Local recurrence and distant metastasis did not occur during the median 34 months of follow-up. Conclusions:Endoscopic resection appears to be safe and effective for diagnosis and treatment of gastric schwannomas from the muscularis propria layer. The cost-effectiveness of endoscopic resection is significantly higher than surgical resection.

Objective: To explore the application value of 3.0 T MultiVane XD (MVXD) technique in female patients with uterine adenomyosis and fibroids. Methods: Patients diagnosed with uterine fibroids with ultrasound and suspected of adenomyosis were involved prospectively from March to May 2018, 3.0 T pelvic MRI examinations were performed during peri-ovulatory period. Axialconventional turbo spin echo (TSE) T₂WI, axial MVXD T₂WI, sagittal conventional TSE T₂WI and MVXD sagittal T₂WI were acquired. Two observers rated those 4 series in the aspects of sharpness of uterine border, motion artifacts, identification capability of lesions, confidence of diagnosis and overall image quality. Cohen Kappa analysis was used to evaluate the consistency of scores between 2 observers. Scores of TSE T₂WI and MVXD T₂WI qualities were compared using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. Results: Twenty patients were enrolled. Axial conventional TSE T₂WI, axial MVXD T₂WI were aquired on all of them. Sagittal conventional TSE T₂WI, sagittal MVXD T₂WI were aquired on 19 among them. Nine patients had only obvious adenomyosis, 6 had only uterinefibroids, and 5 had adenomyosis and uterine fibroids. Compared to conventional TSE technique, scores of two observers in the sharpness of uterine border, motion artifacts, and overall image quality is higher by MVXD with significant difference (P<0.05). The Kappa values for image quality scores of two observers ranged from 0.615 to 0.971, the agreement was good or very good. Conclusion Applying MVXD T₂WI technique to patients with uterine fibroids and adenomyosiscould improve image quality, without sacrificing the ability to recognize and diagnose lesions, compared to conventional TSE T₂WI technique.

【Objective】 To investigate the predictive value of preoperative Gd- EOB- DTPA enhanced MRI in the expression of cytokeratin 19（CK19）in hepatocellular carcinoma（HCC）.【Methods】A total of 102 patients，including 94 male and 8 female，with single HCC confirmed by pathology after operation who underwent preoperative enhanced MRI were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 25 were CK19-positive HCC and 77 were CK19-negative HCC. Two radiologists evaluated MR features including tumor size，tumor margin，intratumoral vessels，signal intensity（SI）on arterial phase （AP） ，enhancement pattern ，arterial rim enhancement ，peritumoral enhancement ，internal cystic or necrotic portion，hemorrhage，intratumoral fat，tumor capsule，vascular invasion，lymph node metastasis，intratumoral septum， target sign on diffusion weighted imaging（DWI）or hepatobiliary phase（HBP），peritumor hypointensity，SI on ADC，SI on HBP ，T1 relaxation times and T1 reduction rate between pre- and post- contrast enhancement. The associations between these imaging features and CK19 expression were investigated. 【Results】SI on AP（P = 0.013），arterial rim enhancement（P = 0.018），target sign on DWI（P = 0.001）and target sign on HBP（P = 0.005）were significantly associated with CK19 expression. Delayed enhanced intratumoral septum（P = 0.042）was associated with CK19 expression between HCCs less than 5 cm. Target sign on DWI（P = 0.001，OR = 4.875，95%CI：1.838~12.927）were independent significant factors of CK19- positive HCC.【Conclusion】Preoperative enhanced MRI with Gd- EOB- DTPA is helpful to predict CK19 expression of HCC.

Objective To explore the value of preoperative spleen-liver volume ratio (SLVR) for predicting recurrence of primary liver cancer after hepatectomy.Methods Clinical data of 86 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing hepatectomy were analyzed retrospectively from January 2009 to December 2014.According to the preoperative SLVR,these patients were divided into two groups:SLVR ＜ 0.8 group (low SLVR group) and SLVR≥0.8 group (high SLVR group).Patients were followed-up until June 2015.Cox ratio risk pattern analysis was used for the recurrent correlative factors.Results The 1-,3-,and 5-year survival rates were 95.5％,88.6％,and 81.8％ in the low SLVR group,and 73.8％,47.6％,and 40.5％ in the high SLVR group,respectively.The difference were statistically significant between two groups (P ＜0.05).Cox regression analysis revealed that SLVR≥0.8,AFP-L3％ ≥10％,the maximum diameter of the tumor ＞ 5 cm,and hepatic or portal vein tumor thrombus were independent predictors of poor disease-free survival after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinomas (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Preoperative SLVR≥0.8 is an independent adverse predictor of poor disease-free survival.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to investigate hepatic and renal toxicity of acrylamide (ACR) , the antagonistic effect and possible mechanism of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the toxicity.

METHODSForty female SD rats were randomly divided into four groups. All the rats were administrated by intraperitoneal(i.p.) injection and 1.5 hours later by gavage. The control group was administrated with 0.9% NaCl by i.p. injection and gavaged with 0.9% NaCl. The NAC group was administrated with 200 mg/kg NAC by injection and gavaged with 0.9% NaCl. The ACR group was administrated with 0.9% NaCl by injection and gavaged with 40 mg/kg ACR. The combined treatment group was administrated with 200 mg/kg NAC by i.p. injection and gavaged with 40 mg/kg ACR. The rats were administrated once a day for 2 weeks. After 24 hours of the last administration, the rats were decapitated. The blood was collected, the liver and kidney were separated. The body weight, organ coefficient and serum biochemical parameters were measured, and the pathological changes of the tissues were examined with a microscope. Then the expression of NF-κB p65, IκB-α and COX-2 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSFrom the second day to the end of the exposure, the body weight of rats in the ACR group was statistically lower than that in the control group (P<0.05) . Compared with the combined treatment group, the body weight in the ACR group statistically decreased in the second and third days (P < 0.05) . The liver and kidney organ coefficients in the ACR group were (4.159%±.371%) and (0.764%±0.068%) respectively, which increased statistically when compared with the control group (P < 0.05) . The contents of ALT, AST and Cr in the serum in the ACR group were (77.370±16.397) U/L、(379.410±57.817) U/L and (77.812±6.391) μmol/L respectively, which were not significantly different with those in the control group and the combined treatment group (P>0.05) . The content of BUN in the serum in the ACR group was (7.005±1.009) mmol/L, which was statistically higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) . Histopathology results showed unclear boundary and nucleus pyknosis in hepatocytes, loose and disordered structures of hepatic cords in the ACR group, but no obvious pathology changes were observed in the kidneys of each group. In the Western blot results, the expression of nuclear NF-κB p65 and COX-2 in the liver in the ACR group was statistically higher than that in the control group and the combined treatment group (P<0.05) , and the expression of IκB-α in the liver in the ACR group statistically decreased compared with the control group and the combined treatment group (P<0.05) . The expression of total NF-κB p65 in the liver in the ACR group was statistically higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) .

CONCLUSIONUnder the conditions of this experiment, ACR may induce hepatic toxicity through the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway, and NAC could antagonize the hepatic toxicity of ACR by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, whereas the toxic effect of ACR on kidney needs to be further studied.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Acrylamide ; toxicity ; Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism