Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Abstract Alzheimer′s disease(AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. It has been found that AD is related to various pathogenic factors such as genetics, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, and excessive phosphorylation of tau protein. However, no definitive conclusions on its pathogenesis have been reached. In this paper, the research progress on the pathogenesis of AD inC.elegansmodel and the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine extracts on AD are reviewed, providing a basis for further research on the alleviating effects of Chinese medicine extracts on AD.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of lung ultrasound in hospitalized children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).Methods:In the cross-sectional study, a total of 422 children with CAP who were hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children′s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, from February 2021 to August 2022 and completed lung ultrasound examination within 48 hours after admission were enrolled. The clinical characteristics, lung ultrasound and chest CT were collected. The patients were divided into two groups according to the signs of pneumonia indicated by chest CT, and the signs of lung ultrasound with diagnostic value were screened according to the signs of pneumonia indicated by chest CT by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression. According to severity of the disease, the children were divided into the severe group and the mild group, and the differences of lung ultrasound signs between the two groups were compared. Kruskal-Wallis test, Fisher′s exact test was selected for comparison between groups. Random forest classifier wes used to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of CAP and prediction of severe pneumonia in children. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the prediction effect. Use DeLong test to compare the area under the curve.Results:Among the 422 cases of CAP, there were 258 males and 164 females, and the age of onset was 2.8 (1.3, 4.3) years. The confluent B-line, consolidation and pleural effusion detected by lung ultrasound were 309 cases (73.2%), 232 cases (55.0%) and 16 cases (3.8%), respectively, and the size of consolidation was 3.0 (0, 11.0) mm. One hundred and ten children (26.1%) with CAP completed chest CT. There were 90 cases with signs of pneumonia in chest CT and 20 cases without signs of pneumonia. Lasso was used for feature selection.Lung consolidation ( OR=2.46), bilateral lung consolidation ( OR=1.16) and confluent B-line ( OR=1.34) were the main index. With random forest classifier, the accuracy of models using full variables and Lasso-selected variables were 0.79 (95% CI 0.70-0.86) and 0.79 (95% CI 0.70-0.86), the sensitivity were 0.81 and 0.81, and the specificity were 0.75 and 0.70, and the area under curve were 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.94, P<0.001) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.76-0.91, P<0.001), respectively. There were 97 cases in severe group and 325 cases in mild group. Compared with the mild group, the detection rate of consolidation, multiple consolidation, the size of consolidation and the size of consolidation was adjusted by body surface area (consolidation size/body surface area) in severe group were higher (66 cases (68.0%) vs. 166 cases (51.1%), 42 cases (43.3%) vs. 93 cases (28.6%), 8.0 (0, 17.0) vs. 1.0 (0, 9.0) mm, 12.5 (0, 24.6) vs. 2.1 (0, 17.6), χ2=8.59, 9.98, Z=14.40, 12.79, all P<0.05). Using lung ultrasound lung consolidation size and consolidation size/body surface area to predict the severe CAP, the optimal cut-off value were 6.7 mm and 10.2, the accuracy was 0.80 (95% CI 0.75-0.83) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.86-0.92), the sensitivity was 0.99 and 0.99, the specificity was 0.14 and 0.56, respectively, and the area under the curve was 0.66 (95% CI 0.60-0.72, P<0.001) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.83, P<0.001), respectively. The area under the curve of consolidation size/body surface area was higher than that of consolidation size ( Z=5.50, P<0.001). Conclusions:Consolidation and confluent B-line, are important index for lung ultrasound diagnosis of CAP in children. The actual consolidation size adjusted by body surface area is superior to the size of consolidation in predicting severe CAP.

Objective To observe the functional recovery situation after prostate cancer radical opera-tion with maximal preservation of the periprostatic structures (MS-RARP).Methods Sixty-seven patients with localized prostatic cancer undergoing MS-RARP in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Military Med-ical University from June 2019 to June 2022 were selected as the study subjects.The changes of urinary con-trol function,erection function,quality of life and total prostate specific antigen (t-PSA) were compared at the time between before operation and postoperative 6 weeks,3 months,6 months,12 months.The expanded pros-tate cancer index composite index (EPIC-50) was used to evaluate the urinary control function,the interna-tional index of erectile function (IIEF-5) questionnaire was used to evaluate the erection function of the pa-tients,and EPIC-50 and the american urological associated symptom score rating scale (AUA-SS) were used to evaluate the life satisfaction of the patients.Results The urinary control function recovery rate,erection function recovery rate and life quality satisfaction rate in postoperative 6 weeks,3 months,6 months,12 months were 71.8％,95.5％,97.3％ and 98.1％;31.7％,38.1％,41.3％ and 44.4％;38.9％,83.6％,88.1％ and 97.0％,respectively.The median t-PSA was gradually decreased,which were 0.026(0.010,0.410),0.009 (0.003,0.060),0.006(0.001,0.050)and 0.004(0.001,0.006)ng/mL,respectively.The life quality satisfac-tion rates at various postoperative time points were significantly increased when compared with before opera-tion (P<0.05).t-PSA was significantly decreased compared with before operation (P<0.05).Conclusion RARP could protect the postoperative urinary function and sexual function,and increase the postoperative life quality of the patients.

Objective:To investigate the impact of hyperuricemia on the live birth rate per transfer cycle and the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on data from 3 959 PCOS patients who received IVF-ET treatment at the Reproductive Centers of Henan Provincial People's Hospital and Jiangxi Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021. The patients were divided into hyperuricemia group (>357 μmol/L, n=1 126) and normal uric acid group (≤357 μmol/L, n=2 833) based on their uric acid levels. Baseline data, clinical and laboratory indicators were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed on factors influencing clinical outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare the live birth rate per transfer cycle and the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle between the two groups, clarifying the impact of hyperuricemia on clinical outcomes in PCOS patients. Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, duration of infertility, baseline testosterone level, type of infertility, and the rate of unusable embryos (all P>0.05). Body mass index [BMI, (25.15±3.75) kg/m 2], fasting blood glucose [(4.99±0.80) mmol/L] and fasting insulin levels [17.19 (11.78, 25.30) mU/L] in hyperuricemia group were higher than those in normal uric acid group [(23.60±3.64) kg/m 2, P<0.001; (4.88±0.81) mmol/L, P<0.001;12.40 (8.59, 17.86) mU/L, P<0.001], while their baseline luteinizing hormone [7.62 (4.68, 11.18) U/L] and anti-Müllerian hormone [7.62 (5.34, 10.73) μg/L] levels were lower than those in normal uric acid group [7.88 (4.98, 11.91) U/L, P=0.024; 7.95 (5.49, 11.73) μg/L, P<0.001], with statistically significant differences. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that female BMI, endometrial thickness on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection day, and the number of transferable embryos were factors influencing the live birth rate per transfer cycle ( OR=1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.04, P=0.044; OR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.97, P<0.001; OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99, P=0.006). Fasting blood glucose, endometrial thickness on hCG injection day, and the number of transferable embryos were factors influencing the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle ( OR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29, P=0.036; OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.97, P=0.002; OR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.66-0.75, P<0.001). Compared with the normal uric acid group, the hyperuricemia group in PCOS patients had not a statistically signifcant decrease in the live birth rate per transfer cycle and the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle ( OR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.72-1.19, P=0.548; OR=1.18, 95% CI: 0.87-1.60, P=0.300). Conclusion:Hyperuricemia does not affect the live birth rate per transfer cycle or the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle in PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET.

Objective:To investigate the impact of hyperuricemia on the live birth rate per transfer cycle and the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on data from 3 959 PCOS patients who received IVF-ET treatment at the Reproductive Centers of Henan Provincial People's Hospital and Jiangxi Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021. The patients were divided into hyperuricemia group (>357 μmol/L, n=1 126) and normal uric acid group (≤357 μmol/L, n=2 833) based on their uric acid levels. Baseline data, clinical and laboratory indicators were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed on factors influencing clinical outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare the live birth rate per transfer cycle and the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle between the two groups, clarifying the impact of hyperuricemia on clinical outcomes in PCOS patients. Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, duration of infertility, baseline testosterone level, type of infertility, and the rate of unusable embryos (all P>0.05). Body mass index [BMI, (25.15±3.75) kg/m 2], fasting blood glucose [(4.99±0.80) mmol/L] and fasting insulin levels [17.19 (11.78, 25.30) mU/L] in hyperuricemia group were higher than those in normal uric acid group [(23.60±3.64) kg/m 2, P<0.001; (4.88±0.81) mmol/L, P<0.001;12.40 (8.59, 17.86) mU/L, P<0.001], while their baseline luteinizing hormone [7.62 (4.68, 11.18) U/L] and anti-Müllerian hormone [7.62 (5.34, 10.73) μg/L] levels were lower than those in normal uric acid group [7.88 (4.98, 11.91) U/L, P=0.024; 7.95 (5.49, 11.73) μg/L, P<0.001], with statistically significant differences. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that female BMI, endometrial thickness on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection day, and the number of transferable embryos were factors influencing the live birth rate per transfer cycle ( OR=1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.04, P=0.044; OR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.97, P<0.001; OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99, P=0.006). Fasting blood glucose, endometrial thickness on hCG injection day, and the number of transferable embryos were factors influencing the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle ( OR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29, P=0.036; OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.97, P=0.002; OR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.66-0.75, P<0.001). Compared with the normal uric acid group, the hyperuricemia group in PCOS patients had not a statistically signifcant decrease in the live birth rate per transfer cycle and the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle ( OR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.72-1.19, P=0.548; OR=1.18, 95% CI: 0.87-1.60, P=0.300). Conclusion:Hyperuricemia does not affect the live birth rate per transfer cycle or the cumulative live birth rate per oocyte retrieval cycle in PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET.