Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of combining low-dose energy spectrum CT with virtual un-enhanced(VUE) scanning and deep-learning image reconstruction(DLIR) in aortic CT angiography(CTA). Methods : In a prospective study, 94 patients scheduled for aortic CTA were randomized into two groups: a low-dose energy spectrum group and a standard 100 kVp enhancement group, with 47 patients in each. All patients initially underwent a true un-enhanced(TUE) scan at 120 kVp using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V(ASIR-V) at 40% for image reconstruction. The low-dose group received enhanced scans using gemstone spectral imaging(GSI) mode with DLIR-H, producing 60 keV virtual monoenergetic images(VMIs) and VUE images. The standard group was scanned at 100 kVp, with images reconstructed using ASIR-V at 50%. Parameters were measured including CT values, noise(SD), signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) for key vascular and muscular areas, alongside the effective radiation dose(ED). Two radiologists evaluated the image quality using a 5-point scale. Results : The low-dose group exhibited significantly higher SNR and CNR values in the ascending aorta, descending aorta, abdominal aorta, and common iliac artery compared to the standard group(P<0.05), with comparable subjective quality scores. The VUE images also demonstrated superior SNR values in the abdominal aorta, common iliac artery, and psoas major muscle, and CNR value in the ascending aorta compared to TUE images, with similar subjective quality. Importantly, the ED in the low-dose group was about 40% lower than that of the standard group. Conclusion Low-dose energy spectrum CT with DLIR in aortic CTA can significantly enhance SNR and CNR, while approximating the image quality of traditional TUE scans, thereby substantially reducing radiation exposure.

Objective To investigate the mechanism by which swertiamarin(STM)ameliorates CD-like colitis in mice.Methods A Caco-2 cell model of TNF-α-stimulated apoptosis was established and divided into three groups:Con,TNF-α and STM,and the effects of STM on apoptosis and barrier function were assessed by Tunel staining,western blotting,immunofluorescence,and transepithelial electric resistance(TEER).A mouse model of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced CD-like colitis was established to assess the effects of STM on colitis,intestinal barrier function and epithelial cell apoptosis.The regulatory role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in STM-induced resistance to intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis was investigated in both the cell model and mouse models.Results TUNEL staining showed that in Caco-2 cells with TNF-α stimulation,STM treatment significantly reduced the percentage of TUNEL-stained cells(P<0.05).STM obviously reduced TNF-α-induced enhancement of cleaved-caspase 3 and Bax expressions(P<0.05),increased Bcl-2 expression(P<0.05),protected intestinal barrier integrity and function by restoring transepithelial electrical resistance(TEER)of the cells,promoted normal localization and expressions of the tight junction proteins(ZO1 and claudin 1)(P<0.05),and inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory factors(IL-6 and CCL3)(P<0.05)in TNF-α-stimulated Caco-2 cells.In the mouse models,STM significantly alleviated TNBS-induced CD-like colitis and intestinal barrier dysfunction(P<0.05)as shown by improved weight loss,lowered Disease Activity Index(DAI)score and inflammation score,reduction of IL-6 and CCL3 release,and restoration of intestinal barrier permeability,colonic TEER,bacterial translocation,and localization and expressions of the tight junction proteins.Mechanistically,STM inhibited the expressions of p-PI3K and p-AKT in both the cell model and mouse model(P<0.05),and treatment with 740Y-P(a PI3K/AKT pathway activator)significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect of STM on TNF-α-induced apoptosis in Caco-2 cells(P<0.05).Conclusion STM inhibits intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis at least in part by suppressing activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway to ameliorate intestinal barrier dysfunction and colitis in mice.

Objective To investigate the mechanism by which swertiamarin(STM)ameliorates CD-like colitis in mice.Methods A Caco-2 cell model of TNF-α-stimulated apoptosis was established and divided into three groups:Con,TNF-α and STM,and the effects of STM on apoptosis and barrier function were assessed by Tunel staining,western blotting,immunofluorescence,and transepithelial electric resistance(TEER).A mouse model of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS)-induced CD-like colitis was established to assess the effects of STM on colitis,intestinal barrier function and epithelial cell apoptosis.The regulatory role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in STM-induced resistance to intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis was investigated in both the cell model and mouse models.Results TUNEL staining showed that in Caco-2 cells with TNF-α stimulation,STM treatment significantly reduced the percentage of TUNEL-stained cells(P<0.05).STM obviously reduced TNF-α-induced enhancement of cleaved-caspase 3 and Bax expressions(P<0.05),increased Bcl-2 expression(P<0.05),protected intestinal barrier integrity and function by restoring transepithelial electrical resistance(TEER)of the cells,promoted normal localization and expressions of the tight junction proteins(ZO1 and claudin 1)(P<0.05),and inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory factors(IL-6 and CCL3)(P<0.05)in TNF-α-stimulated Caco-2 cells.In the mouse models,STM significantly alleviated TNBS-induced CD-like colitis and intestinal barrier dysfunction(P<0.05)as shown by improved weight loss,lowered Disease Activity Index(DAI)score and inflammation score,reduction of IL-6 and CCL3 release,and restoration of intestinal barrier permeability,colonic TEER,bacterial translocation,and localization and expressions of the tight junction proteins.Mechanistically,STM inhibited the expressions of p-PI3K and p-AKT in both the cell model and mouse model(P<0.05),and treatment with 740Y-P(a PI3K/AKT pathway activator)significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect of STM on TNF-α-induced apoptosis in Caco-2 cells(P<0.05).Conclusion STM inhibits intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis at least in part by suppressing activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway to ameliorate intestinal barrier dysfunction and colitis in mice.

Objective:To investigate the value of nomogram based on radiomics features of CT enterography (CTE) combined with clinical characteristics to predict secondary loss of response (SLOR) after infliximab (IFX) treatment in patients with Crohn′s disease (CD).Methods:This study was a case-control study. Clinical and imaging data of 155 patients with CD diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from March 2015 to July 2022 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into a training set ( n=108) and a testing set ( n=47) in the ratio of 7∶3 by stratified sampling method. All patients were treated according to the standardized protocol and were classified as SLOR (43 in the training set and 18 in the testing set) and non-SLOR (65 in the training set and 29 in the testing set) according to treatment outcome. Based on the data from the training group, independent clinical predictors of SLOR after IFX treatment were screened in the clinical data using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to establish a clinical model. Intestinal phase images were selected to be outlined layer by layer along the margin of the lesion to obtain the volume of the region of interest to extract the radiomics features. The radiomics features were screened using univariate analysis and the minimum absolute shrinkage and selection operator to establish the radiomics model. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to build a combined clinical-radiomics model based on the screened clinical independent predictors and radiomics characters, then a nomogram was drawn. The predictive efficacy of the 3 models for SLOR after IFX treatment was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. The decision curve analysis was applied to evaluate the clinical utility of the models. Results:Disease duration ( OR=1.983, 95% CI 1.966-2.000, P=0.046) and intestinal stenosis ( OR=1.246, 95% CI 1.079-1.764, P=0.015) were identified as the independent predictors of SLOR in the clinical data, and a clinical model was established. Totally 9 radiomics features were included in the radiomics model. The AUCs of clinical, radiomics, and combined models for predicting SLOR after IFX treatment in CD patients were 0.691 (95% CI 0.591-0.792), 0.896 (95% CI 0.836-0.955), and 0.910 (95% CI 0.855-0.965) in the training set, and 0.722 (95% CI 0.574-0.871), 0.866 (95% CI 0.764-0.968), and 0.889 (95% CI 0.796-0.982) in the testing set. Decision curve analysis in the testing set showed higher net clinical benefits for both the radiomics model and combined model than the clinical model, and combined model had higher net clinical benefits than the radiomics model over most threshold probability intervals. Conclusions:CTE-based radiomics model can effectively predict SLOR after IFX treatment in patients with CD, and a combined model by incorporating clinical characteristics of disease duration and intestinal stenosis can further improve the predictive efficacy.

Objective To explore the value of combined prediction model based on clinical and CT radiomics features in discriminating atypical pulmonary hamartoma(APH)from atypical lung adenocarcinoma(ALA).Methods A total of 290 patients with APH and ALA confirmed by pathology were retrospectively selected.250 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were randomly assigned into a training set(APH=91,ALA=84)and an internal validation set(APH=39,ALA=36)at a ratio of 7∶3,and other 40 patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC were assigned as an external validation set(APH=21,ALA=19).The independent model and multivariate logistic regression combined model were constructed using the selected clinical-CT features and radiomics features,respectively,and a nomogram was drawn.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and DeLong test were used to evaluate and compare the performances of the models.Results The area under the curve(AUC)of the combined model established by 3 clinical-CT features and 4 radiomics features in the training set was 0.980,which was higher than that of clinical-CT model(AUC=0.885,P＜0.001)and radiomics model(AUC=0.975,P=0.042).The AUC of the combined model in the internal and external validation sets(0.963 vs 0.917)were also higher than those of clinical-CT model(0.858 vs 0.774)and radiomics model(0.953 vs 0.897),respectively.Conclusion The combined prediction model based on clinical and CT radiomics features can improve the differential diagnosis ability of APH and ALA.

Objective To discuss the value of clinical radiomic nomogram(CRN)and deep convolutional neural network(DCNN)in distinguishing atypical pulmonary hamartoma(APH)from atypical lung adenocarcinoma(ALA).Methods A total of 307 patients were retrospectively recruited from two institutions.Patients in institu-tion 1 were randomly divided into the training(n=184:APH=97,ALA=87)and internal validation sets(n=79:APH=41,ALA=38)in a ratio of 7∶3,and patients in institution 2 were assigned as the external validation set(n=44:APH=23,ALA=21).A CRN model and a DCNN model were established,respectively,and the performances of two models were compared by delong test and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.A human-machine competition was conducted to evaluate the value of AI in the Lung-RADS classification.Results The areas under the curve(AUCs)of DCNN model were higher than those of CRN model in the training,internal and external validation sets(0.983 vs 0.968,0.973 vs 0.953,and 0.942 vs 0.932,respectively),however,the differences were not statistically significant(p=0.23,0.31 and 0.34,respectively).With a radiologist-AI com-petition experiment,AI tended to downgrade more Lung-RADS categories in APH and affirm more Lung-RADS cat-egories in ALA than radiologists.Conclusion Both DCNN and CRN have higher value in distinguishing APH from ALA,with the former performing better.AI is superior to radiologists in evaluating the Lung-RADS classification of pulmonary nodules.

Objective To construct a radiomics nomogram combining clinical and a radiomics signature for distinguishing type Ⅱpapillary renal cell carcinoma(pRCC)from atypical clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC).Methods Clinical and CT data of patients with pathologically confirmed type Ⅱ pRCC(62 cases)and atypical ccRCC(56 cases)were analyzed.A random sample was divided into a training set(82 cases)and a test set(36 cases)in a ratio of 7∶3.Clinical factors were screened to construct clinical factor models.A total of 1 595 radiomics features of tumors were extracted from the corticomedullary phase CT images and based on the most effective features to construct a radiomics signature and calculate the radiomics score(Rad-score).A radiomics nomogram was constructed by combining the Rad-score and independent clinical factors.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to assess the clini-cal usefulness of the models.Decision curve analysis(DCA)was used to assess the difference between the models.Results The radiomics signature showed good discrimination in training set area under the curve(AUC)0.894[95％confidence interval(CI)0.834-0.947]and test set AUC 0.879(95％CI 0.774-0.963).The AUC of the clinical factors model in training set and test set were 0.725(95％CI 0.646-0.804)and 0.698(95％CI 0.567-0.819).The AUC of the radiomics nomogram in training set and test set were 0.901(95％CI 0.840-0.953)and 0.901(95％CI 0.809-0.975).DCA demonstrated the radiomics nomogram outmatched the clinical factors model and radiomics signature in the aspects of clinical usefulness.Conclusion Radiomics nomogram based on enhanced CT can provide good prediction of type Ⅱ pRCC and atypical ccRCC preoperatively,improve the diagnostic accuracy and provide guidance for future clinical treatment.

Targeted drug delivery is constantly updated with a better understanding of the physiological and pathological features of various diseases. Depending on high safety, good compliance and many other undeniable advantages, attempts have been undertaken to complete an intravenous-to-oral conversion of targeted drug delivery. However, oral delivery of particulates to systemic circulation is highly challenging due to the biochemical aggressivity and immune exclusion in the gut that restrain absorption and access to the bloodstream. Little is known about the feasibility of targeted drug delivery via oral administration (oral targeting) to a remote site beyond the gastrointestinal tract. To this end, this review proactively contributes to a special dissection on the feasibility of oral targeting. We discussed the theoretical basis of oral targeting, the biological barriers of absorption, the in vivo fate and transport mechanisms of drug vehicles, and the effect of structural evolution of vehicles on oral targeting as well. At last, a feasibility analysis on oral targeting was performed based on the integration of currently available information. The innate defense of intestinal epithelium does not allow influx of more particulates into the peripheral blood through enterocytes. Therefore, limited evidence and lacking exact quantification of systemically exposed particles fail to support much success with oral targeting. Nevertheless, the lymphatic pathway may serve as a potentially alternative portal of peroral particles into the remote target sites via M-cell uptake.

Objective: To evaluate the value of multi-detector CT (MDCT) upper airway imaging in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) and in determining the location of upper airway obstruction． Methods : MDCT was used to scan the upper airways of 85 clinically confirmed adult patients with different degrees of OSAHS (73 males and 12 females) in calm breathing phase and forced inhalation phase and 60 normal adults (50 males and 10 females) in calm breathing phase to obtain nasal cavity，nasopharynx，palatopharynx and oglosopharynx volumes．Parapharyngeal fat volume was measured in OSAHS patients and normal subjects．In addition，three groups of clinical data related to OSAHS patients were recorded，including sleep apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ，body mass index ( BMI) and lowest blood oxygen saturation ( LaSO2 ) ．Finally，the measured data and clinical data of each group were statistically analyzed. Results : The volume of nasopharynx and palatopharynx in the calm breathing group was significantly smaller than that in the control group，with statistical significance．Palatopharyngeal volume forced inspiratory phase was significantly smaller than calm breathing phase in the experimental group．The parapharyngeal fat volume in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group．AHI was positively correlated with BMI and parapharyngeal fat volume．LaSO2 was negatively correlated with AHI and BMI，respectively． Conclusion MDCT upper airway imaging has good clinical application value in the diagnosis，treatment and postoperative evaluation of OSAHS disease due to the significant anatomical difference between OSAHS patients and normal subjects.

Objective:To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic ureter company with the bladder neck and urethral maldevelopment in children.Methods:The clinical data of the 6 patients admitted to Children’s Hospital affiliated to Chongqing Medical University from September 1993 to April 2019 diagnosed as ectopic ureter company with the bladder neck and urethral maldevelopment were retrospectively reviewed. The 6 children were girls and the median age was 7 years old , ranged from 2 to 15 years old. All children had ectopic ureter, including 3 in left-sided, 1 in right-sided, and 2 in bilateral-sided. Five children presented the intermittent dribbling incontinence and one child presented the continuously incontinence without normal voiding. Through ultrasound, IVP, MRI, cystoscopy and retrograde urography, seven ureters were found ectopic position, including bladder neck in 4 cases, two ureters inserted in the vagina in 2 cases. There were two cases with duplex kidney and 4 cases with renal dysplasia. Preoperative cystoscopy revealed wide and short urethra in 1 case, wide bladder neck combined with wide and short urethra in 4 cases. The surgery type included nephrectomy in cases 1-3, bilateral ureter reimplantation in case 4 who had the bilateral ectopic ureter , bilateral ureter reimplantation and bladder neck reconstruction at the same time in case 5. Nephrectomy associated with bladder neck and urethral reconstruction in case 6.Results:Five patients were followed-up and one patient was lost to follow-up after the first operation. Mean follow-up was 41.2 months (ranging 2 to 84 months). Four patients with bladder neck and maldevelopment that were not solved intraoperatively got reoperations due to incontinence without remission. Case 1, who underwent urethral reconstruction and extension, and urinary incontinence was partially relieved. Case 2 was found to have wide bladder neck deformity, and then retrospectively got bladder neck reconstruction and urethrovaginal fistula repair in 3 years and 5 years later. The urinary incontinence was completely relieved. The ureteral stump of case 3 was resected 2 years after operation due to recurrent urinary tract infection, and then got twice bladder neck and urethral reconstruction in 3 years and 6 years later of nephrectomy. His incontinence was partially relieved. The case 4 got bladder neck and urethral reconstruction in one year after bilateral ureter reimplantation, and incontinence was partially relieved too. Among the two patients underwent combined surgery, the case 5, who got bilateral ureteral bladder replantation combined with bladder neck reconstruction, were lost to follow-up after surgery. The case 6 got dysplasia nephrectomy combined with bladder neck reconstruction and urethroplasty were completely relieved of urinary incontinence.Conclusions:Bladder neck and urethra maldevelopment is one of the main causes of urinary incontinence after surgery in children with ectopic ureter. The diagnosis mainly relies on cystoscopy. The treatment mainly relies on surgery. Bladder neck and urethral reconstruction is expected to be available. If the operative conditions permit, synchronous surgical treatment of ectopic ureter and bladder neck and urethral maldevelopment will get a better prognosis than staging surgery.