1.Quantitative Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI for Diagnosing Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Activity: A Prospective Feasibility Study
YunMeng WANG ; WeiYi ZHOU ; YuanYuan CUI ; JianKun DAI ; YuXin CHENG ; QingQing WEN ; TianYi XING ; HongBiao SUN ; Song JIANG ; MeiLing XU ; ZhenHuan WANG ; Yan SONG ; Tuo LI ; Yi XIAO
Korean Journal of Radiology 2026;27(2):161-173
Objective:
This prospective study evaluated the feasibility of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI for assessing disease activity in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).
Materials and Methods:
A total of 88 patients with active TAO, 76 with inactive TAO, and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. CEST MRI-derived magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and MTR asymmetry (MTRasym) at 1 ppm, 2 ppm, and 3.5 ppm were calculated. Clinical data, MTR, and MTRasym values for the extraocular muscles (one representative muscle per eye, yielding two measurements per participant) were compared among the groups. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine associations between imaging parameters and the clinical activity score (CAS) in patients with TAO. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent associations between imaging parameters and disease activity in patients with TAO (active vs. inactive). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance for discriminating active from inactive TAO.
Results:
Patients with active TAO showed lower MTR values (P < 0.001) and higher MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) (all P < 0.001) compared with those with inactive TAO. MTR was negatively correlated with CAS (r = -0.402; P < 0.001), while MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) were positively correlated with CAS (r = 0.369, 0.350, and 0.349, respectively;all P < 0.001). MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) in discriminating active from inactive TAO were 0.772 and 0.730, respectively. Combining MTR with MTRasym (1 ppm) significantly improved diagnostic performance compared with either parameter alone, achieving an AUC of 0.805 (P = 0.029 and 0.001).
Conclusion
MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. Their combination further enhanced diagnostic performance in distinguishing active from inactive TAO, suggesting their potential as quantitative imaging biomarkers to guide treatment in patients with TAO.
2.The parallel mediating effects of anxiety and depression states between life events and behavior problems in adolescents
Zihao YANG ; Qingqing ZHANG ; Dan WANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Hua ZHENG ; Lijing SHI ; Nana WANG ; Yihan ZHANG ; Zhenyi LI ; Min SUN ; Huimin CHEN ; Huiping CHENG ; Ruiling ZHANG ; Chuansheng WANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(3):259-265
Objective:To explore the relationship between life events, anxiety, depression, and behavior problems in adolescents.Methods:From September to October 2022, the cluster sampling method was used to select 5 341 adolescents from 4 middle schools in Xinxiang urban area.The subjects and their parents were investigated by the adolescent self-rating life events check list (ASLEC), generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7), patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), and child behavior checklist (CBCL). SPSS 27.0 software was used for Spearman correlation analysis, and AMOS 28.0 software was used to construct the structural equation model.Results:The scores of anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems were 1 (0, 4), 1 (0, 4), and 3 (0, 10). The total score of life events was 5 (1, 13), and the dimensions scored as follows: interpersonal conflict 1 (0, 4), academic pressure 2 (0, 5), punishment 0 (0, 2), loss 0 (0, 0), health and adaptation problem 0 (0, 1), and others 0 (0, 2). There were positive correlations between life events and its dimensions, depression, anxiety and behavioral problems ( r=0.28-0.69, all P<0.01). In the overall population, anxiety and depression played parallel mediating roles in the impact of life events on behavior problems. Life events could positively predict anxiety ( β=0.68, P<0.01), and anxiety could positively predict behavior problems ( β=0.04, P=0.02). Life events could positively predict depression ( β=0.77, P<0.01), and depression could positively predict behavior problems ( β=0.18, P<0.01). The standardized total effect size of the impact of life events on behavioral problems was 0.622 (95% CI=0.564-0.675). The standardized direct effect size and indirect effect size were 0.460 (95% CI=0.374-0.539) and 0.162 (95% CI=0.108-0.218), accounting for 74.0% and 26.0%of the total effect, respectively. After stratification by gender, the results for male adolescents were consistent with the overall population, while the mediating effect of anxiety was not significant in the female adolescents. Conclusion:Life events can lead to anxiety and depression in adolescents, thereby increasing the risk of behavior problems.
3.Effects of dapagliflozin on the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Li DENG ; Ye DENG ; Qianwen CHEN ; Qingqing GU ; Qingjie WANG ; Yuan JI ; Ling SUN
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine in Intensive and Critical Care 2025;32(1):31-36
Objective To investigate the effects of dapagliflozin on the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmia(MVA)during hospitalization in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods A retrospective study was conducted to select patients with AMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in the department of cardiology of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2018 and November 2023.Clinical datas collected during hospitalization included demographics(gender,age),baseline vital signs(systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,heart rate),comorbidities(hypertension,diabetes mellitus),body mass index(BMI),smoking,alcohol consumption,ST segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI),Killip class≥3,laboratory parameters[white blood cell count(WBC),neutrophil percentage(NEU%),serum creatinine(SCr)],procedural data(number of coronary stents implanted,culprit vessels being the left main coronary artery,left anterior descending artery,right coronary artery,left circumflex artery and intraoperative hypotension),medications[angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensinⅡreceptor blocker(ACEI/ARB),β-blockers,aspirin,ticagrelor,clopidogrel,platelet glycoproteinⅡb/Ⅲa receptor antagonists,Statin],and electrocardiogram characteristics[the number of cases frequent ventricular premature contractions(premature beats)and the number of cases of sinus rhythm].The study endpoint was the occurrence of MVA during hospitalization among enrolled patients.Patients were categorized into the MVA group and the non-MVA group based on the occurrence of MVA during their hospital stay.Differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups were compared.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were employed to evaluate the impact of dapagliflozin use on the risk of MVA in patients with AMI.Results A total of 2 893 eligible AMI patients were enrolled and 145 patients(5.01%)experienced MVA during hospitalization.Compared with the MVA group,the proportion of patients taking dapagliflozin was higher in the non-MVA group[13.2%(363/2 748)vs.6.2%(9/145),P=0.014],the proportion of males was higher[74.3%(2 042/2 748)vs.66.9%(97/145),P=0.048],the age was younger(years:64.82±13.91 vs.69.78±14.07,P<0.001),the heart rate at admission was slower(beats/min:80.09±15.72 vs.84.31±20.92,P=0.002),the proportion of patients with Killip grade≥3 was lower[11.5%(317/2 748)vs.38.6%(56/145),P<0.001],the proportion of smoking patients was higher[48.0%(1 319/2 748)vs.33.8%(49/145),P<0.05],SCr level was lower(μmol/L:84.73±58.52 vs.102.87±59.47,P<0.001),and the proportion of patients taking ACEI/ARB and β-blockers was higher[64.9%(1 783/2 748)vs.49.0%(71/145),65.1%(1 788/2 748)vs.53.8%(78/145),both P<0.05],the rate of frequent premature ventricular beats was lower[1.0%(28/2 748)vs.11.7%(17/145),P<0.05],and the proportion of patients with intraoperative hypotension was lower[3.2%(86/2 748)vs.10.6%(15/145),P<0.05].After adjusting numerous confounding factors,multifactorial Logistic regression analysis showed that dapagliflozin may significantly reduced the risk of MVA in patients with AMI after PCI[odds ratio(OR)=0.417,95%confidence interval(95%CI)was 0.200-0.880,P=0.022].Subgroup analysis suggested that there were 1 042 AMI patients with diabetes mellitus,of whom 348 took dapagliflozin,and 8 patients(2.30%)had MVA.The risk of MVA was reduced in patients taking dapagliflozin(Log-Rank:χ2=11.983,P=0.001).Conclusion The use of dapagliflozin significantly reduced the risk of MVA during hospitalization in patients with AMI.
4.Three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies
Yuanjie CUI ; Cuixia GUO ; Zhen LI ; Juan ZHANG ; Tiejuan ZHANG ; Keyang WANG ; Qingqing WU ; Yuting WU ; Lijuan SUN
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(3):368-371
Objective To observe the value of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies.Methods Totally 118 fetuses with intracranial anomalies diagnosed through cranial MRI/induced labor specimen dissection who underwent prenatal ultrasound examination were retrospectively enrolled.Two-dimensional,three-dimensional ultrasound and microvascular flow imaging manifestations of fetal intracranial anomalies were observed,and the accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was analyzed.Results The accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was 93.22%(110/118),of isolated and non-isolated intracranial anomalies was 97.47%(77/79)and 84.62%(33/39),respectively.Six fetuses were missed diagnosis of malformations of cortical development(1 fetus of tuberous sclerosis,4 of abnormal morphology of the sulci gyrus and 1 of schizencephaly)and 1 fetus of intracranial softening lesion,while posterior fossa arachnoid cyst in 1 fetus was misdiagnosed as mega cisterna magna.Conclusion The accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound combined with microvascular flow imaging for prenatal diagnosis of fetal intracranial anomalies was relatively high.
5.Prenatal ultrasonic findings of fetal malformation of cortical development
Cuixia GUO ; Lijuan SUN ; Yan LIU ; Tiejuan ZHANG ; Li WANG ; Jijing HAN ; Qingqing WU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(3):363-367
Objective To observe prenatal ultrasonic findings of fetal malformation of cortical development(MCD).Methods Totally 37 singleton fetuses with MCD diagnosed by fetal cranial MRI and/or genetic examination were retrospectively enrolled,and prenatal ultrasonic manifestations were observed.Results Among 37 fetuses,29(29/37,78.38%)were found with abnormal Sylvian fissure,26(26/37,70.27%)with widened/asymmetrical lateral ventricles,22(22/37,59.46%)with abnormal surface sulci,14(14/37,37.84%)with abnormal cavity of septum pellucidum(CSP)/corpus callosum(CC),11(11/37,29.73%)with midline deviation/curvature,11(11/37,29.73%)with widened subarachnoid space,10(10/37,27.03%)with head circumference<2 standard deviation below mean value,9(9/37,24.32%)with abnormalities in the cerebellar hemisphere/vermis,7(7/37,18.92%)with abnormal echoes in the brain parenchyma,7(7/37,18.92%)with midline cysts and 2(2/37,5.41%)with enlarged ganglion eminence.Conclusion Fetal MCD mainly presented as abnormal Sylvian fissure,widened/asymmetrical lateral ventricles and abnormal surface sulci,which might accompanied by abnormal CSP/CC,midline deviation/curvature,widened subarachnoid space and abnormal head circumference in prenatal ultrasound.
6.New advances in fetal neurological ultrasound examination
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(3):359-362
Ultrasound is the preferred imaging method for assessing fetal cranial development.In recent years,significant progresses have been made in imaging technology,resolution and diagnostic accuracy of fetal neurological ultrasound,providing important basis for prenatal diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in clinical practice.The new advances in fetal neurological ultrasound examination were reviewed in this article.
7.Correlation between levels of physical activity and carotid intima-media thickening in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycosylated hemoglobin control
Dan FANG ; Qian CUI ; Qingqing LOU ; Zhenzhen SUN ; Xiaodong CHEN ; Ping YAO ; Xiaodan YUAN
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2025;33(2):90-97
Objective To explore the effects of physical activity(PA)on carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT)thickening in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)with poor HbA1c control.Methods A total of 2505 T2DM inpatients with poor HbA1c control who visited the Endocrinology Department of the Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Changzhou Second People's Hospital Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University from January 2019 to February 2022 were enrolled in this study.The patients were categorized into the mild-intensity PA(1~599 MET-min/w,n=795),moderate-intensity PA(600~1499 MET-min/w,n=1107)and high-intensity PA(≥1500 MET-min/w,n=603)based on the metabolic equivalence level(MET).Logistic regression was performed to analyze the relationship between PA and CIMT thickening.Statified analysis was used to investigate the effects of blood pressure(BP)and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)target status on CIMT thickness in different PA groups.Results Restricted cubic spline plots showed a nonlinear relationship between PA levels and the risk of CIMT thickening(P<0.05).Logistic regression showed that with moderate-intensity PA as the control,while high-intensity PA was the influence factor of CIMT thickening(OR 1.581,95%CI 1.244~2.010,P<0.05).Statified analyses showed that under mild-intensity PA,using neither BP nor LDL-C on target as reference,achievement of either index and both were the influence factor of CIMT thickening.Using BP on target as reference,achievements of both indexes,achievements of neither of both indexes,and achievement of LDL-C only were the influence factor of CIMT thickening.Using LDL-C on target as reference,achievement of neither of them and achievement of BP only were the influence factor of CIMT thickening.Under high-intensity PA,achievement of both indexes was negatively associated with CIMT thickening.Conclusions Moderate-intensity PA is the recommended scheme to prevent CIMT thickening in T2DM patients whose HbA1c is not up to standard.Mild-intensity PA is not related to the risk of CIMT thickening,while high-intensity PA is positively related to the risk of CIMT thickening,and focusing on LDL-C compliance is particularly important to avoid CIMT thickening.
8.The parallel mediating effects of anxiety and depression states between life events and behavior problems in adolescents
Zihao YANG ; Qingqing ZHANG ; Dan WANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Hua ZHENG ; Lijing SHI ; Nana WANG ; Yihan ZHANG ; Zhenyi LI ; Min SUN ; Huimin CHEN ; Huiping CHENG ; Ruiling ZHANG ; Chuansheng WANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(3):259-265
Objective:To explore the relationship between life events, anxiety, depression, and behavior problems in adolescents.Methods:From September to October 2022, the cluster sampling method was used to select 5 341 adolescents from 4 middle schools in Xinxiang urban area.The subjects and their parents were investigated by the adolescent self-rating life events check list (ASLEC), generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7), patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9), and child behavior checklist (CBCL). SPSS 27.0 software was used for Spearman correlation analysis, and AMOS 28.0 software was used to construct the structural equation model.Results:The scores of anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems were 1 (0, 4), 1 (0, 4), and 3 (0, 10). The total score of life events was 5 (1, 13), and the dimensions scored as follows: interpersonal conflict 1 (0, 4), academic pressure 2 (0, 5), punishment 0 (0, 2), loss 0 (0, 0), health and adaptation problem 0 (0, 1), and others 0 (0, 2). There were positive correlations between life events and its dimensions, depression, anxiety and behavioral problems ( r=0.28-0.69, all P<0.01). In the overall population, anxiety and depression played parallel mediating roles in the impact of life events on behavior problems. Life events could positively predict anxiety ( β=0.68, P<0.01), and anxiety could positively predict behavior problems ( β=0.04, P=0.02). Life events could positively predict depression ( β=0.77, P<0.01), and depression could positively predict behavior problems ( β=0.18, P<0.01). The standardized total effect size of the impact of life events on behavioral problems was 0.622 (95% CI=0.564-0.675). The standardized direct effect size and indirect effect size were 0.460 (95% CI=0.374-0.539) and 0.162 (95% CI=0.108-0.218), accounting for 74.0% and 26.0%of the total effect, respectively. After stratification by gender, the results for male adolescents were consistent with the overall population, while the mediating effect of anxiety was not significant in the female adolescents. Conclusion:Life events can lead to anxiety and depression in adolescents, thereby increasing the risk of behavior problems.
9.Expression of ELAVL family in glioma and their clinicopathological significance
Qingqing YANG ; Wenjun LUO ; Cuiyun SUN ; Shizhu YU ; Xuexia ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(9):1149-1155
Purpose To investigate the expression and clinical significance of the embryonic lethal abnormal vi-sion-like(ELAVL)family in glioma.Methods Pan-cancer and glioma-specific analyses of mRNA expression profiles of the ELAVL family were analyzed using the TCGA and GTEx databases.The association between ELAVL family ex-pression and survival of glioma patients was evaluated via the gene expression profiling interactive analysis 2(GEPIA2)database.The expression level of ELAVL2 protein in human glioma tissues and non-tumor control brain tissues was ver-ified by immunohistochemistry,and the relationship between its expression and prognosis was analyzed based on the fol-low-up data of patients.Western blot was performed to assess ELAVL2 protein levels in human immortalized astrocytes of UC2 and seven glioma cell lines.Overexpression of ELAVL2 in glioma cells was achieved to evaluate its impact on cell proliferation using in vitro assays.Results Compared to normal tissues,the ELAVL family exhibited distinct ex-pression patterns across various cancers.In glioma,ELAVL1 was significantly upregulated,while ELAVL2,ELAVL3 and ELAVL4 were markedly downregulated.Survival analysis revealed that low ELAVL2 expression was an independent prognostic factor for poor survival in glioma patients(P<0.05).Immunohistochemistry confirmed that the expression of ELAVL2 decreased with the increase of glioma grade,and its low expression indicated a poor prognosis for patients(P<0.001).Overexpression of ELAVL2 inhibited glioma cell proliferation in vitro(P<0.001),suggesting its tumor-suppressive role.Conclusion The ELAVL family members play a critical role in glioma progression.ELAVL2 downregulation serves as a marker for adverse clinical outcomes and represents a potential therapeutic target for glioma therapy.
10.Recent advances in the pathogenesis and preventive strategies of abdominal aortic an-eurysm
Qingqing LEI ; Ziwen SHEN ; Mengxian SUN ; Tingting ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(7):579-586
Abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA)is characterized by a localized and irreversible enlargement of the abdominal aorta,which poses a significant risk to life in the event of rupture.Currently,the primary treatment for AAA is surgical intervention,as there are no effective pharmacological therapies available to prevent or slow postoperative vascular dilation.Therefore,understanding the detailed pathogenesis of AAA and identifying effective prevention and treatment strategies is essential.This review begins by examining the pathological and molecular mechanisms involved in AAA,fo-cusing on key research areas such as the phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells,inflammation and metabolic reprogramming.Based on a large of animal and clinical studies,this review then explores therapeutic strategies and prom-ising drugs for AAA,including mesenchymal stem cell therapy,nanomaterial applications,and immunomodulatory inter-ventions.The review aims to provide researchers with new ideas and directions for the prevention and treatment of AAA.

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