1.Establishment and application of the method for plasma concentration determination of lamotrigine,levetiracetam and perampanel in children with epilepsy
Wenlin SONG ; Ying ZHOU ; Haoran CHEN ; Ziyue LIN ; Yan LI ; Jie LIU ; Taiwei JIN ; Xuqiang ZHOU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(10):1313-1317
OBJECTIVE To establish a method for simultaneous determination of plasma concentration of lamotrigine(LTG), levetiracetam(LEV) and perampanel(PER) in children with epilepsy and apply this method in clinical practice. METHODS Plasma proteins were precipitated with acetonitrile. Using PER-D 5 as internal standard, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was adopted. The determination was performed on ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 C 18 column with mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid with 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate-acetonitrile (gradient elution) at the flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The column temperature was 40 ℃, and sample size was 5 μL. The analysis time was 5 min. The electrospray ionization source and multiple reaction monitoring mode were used for positive ion scanning. The ion pairs used for quantitative analysis of LTG, LEV, PER and internal standard were m / z 255.9→144.9, m / z 171.1→126.1, m / z 350.1→219.0 and m / z 354.9→220.2, respectively. The steady-state trough concentrations of the aforementioned drugs in the plasma of 14 pediatric epilepsy patients receiving combination therapy were determined using the same UPLC-MS/MS method as above. RESULTS The linear ranges of LTG, LEV and PER were 0.15-24 μg/mL ( R 2 >0.993), 0.312 5-50 μg/mL ( R 2 >0.997) and 6.25-1 000 ng/mL ( R 2 >0.997), respectively. The lower limits of quantification were 0.15 μg/mL, 0.312 5 μg/mL and 6.25 ng/mL, respectively. RSDs of intraday and interday precision tests of the three drugs were no more than 9.83%, and the accuracies (relative errors) were between -9.33% and 13.72%( n =6 or n =18); the average extraction recovery rates were 86.4%-97.9%, and the average matrix effects were 86.9%-110.0% ( n =6). The absolute values of the relative errors in the stability tests were all below 15%. The steady-state trough concentrations of LTG, LEV and PER were (5.64±4.03)μg/mL, (10.67±8.78)μg/mL and(450.20±251.27)ng/mL, respectively; the rates of achieving target trough concentrations were 71.4%, 37.5% and 84.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established UPLC-MS/MS method is specific, rapid and suitable for the plasma concentration monitoring in epileptic children receiving combination therapy.
2.Research on Development Path and Strategy of Human Use Experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Bibliometrics and Thematic Analysis
Yundan WU ; Qun CHEN ; Jie CHEN ; Yuhang OU ; Jindong WU ; Yan XIAO ; Jiemei GUO ; Jing CAI ; Youxin SU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):118-128
ObjectiveThe development trend and knowledge structure of the research on human use experience (HUE) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were systematically reviewed, and the core challenges and future directions were identified. This study aims to provide reference for the construction of a scientific and feasible research and development framework and evidence transformation system. MethodsLiterature related to "human use experience" published from January 1, 2019 to July 31, 2025 was retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), and PubMed databases. Bibliometric visualization was conducted using Excel, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace, followed by in-depth reading and thematic summarization of core literature. ResultsA total of 181 papers were included for bibliometric analysis, with 45 articles used for in-depth thematic mining. The analysis showed that the number of publications on HUE research has increased in a stepwise manner over the past five years. Yang Zhongqi (24 times) was the core of the author network, the journal with the highest number of publications was China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, the institutions publishing the most articles were mainly research institutions, regulatory agencies, hospitals, and universities, high-frequency keywords included "new TCM drugs", "real-world studies", and "clinical comprehensive evaluation", keyword clustering analysis formed three major clusters: Policy orientation, application fields, and methodological approaches. Thematic analysis reveals that HUE-based evaluation should be integrated throughout the research and development process, encompassing three dimensions: TCM theory, clinical value, and pharmaceutical fundamentals, with toxic herbs and compatibility contraindications being key foci. Data collection primarily relies on empirical data, while real-world data constitute the primary source for clinical research, with efficacy and safety as the shared core. Data management emphasizes quality control and statistical analysis; however, the management of bias and confounding remains a critical bottleneck in evidence transformation. In practice, HUE-based approaches have successfully supported the registration and evaluation of multiple categories of new TCM drugs. ConclusionThe research on HUE of TCM has formed a policy-driven pattern characterized by, rapid development and close link with regulatory practice. A technical framework covering the whole chain of research and development has been constructed with clinical value as the core, which provides methodological basis and strategy reference for the scientific transformation of HUE of TCM from "experience" to "evidence".
3.Effects of Yangxin Tongmai Formula (养心通脉方) on Methylation Key Genes and the PERK/ATF4/CHOP Signaling Pathway in Myocardial Tissue of Coronary Heart Disease Model Rats with Blood Stasis Syndrome
Chun ZHANG ; Shumeng ZHANG ; Yan MAO ; Xing CHEN ; Huifang KUANG ; Yi YANG ; Lingli CHEN ; Jie LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(7):784-791
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Yangxin Tongmai Formula (养心通脉方, YTF) in trea-ting coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome based on DNA methylation. MethodsSeventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=12) and a modeling group (n=60). The modeling group was subjected to a high-fat diet, intragastric administration of vitamin D3, and subcutaneous injection of isoprenaline to establish the rat model of coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome. Forty-one successfully modeled rats were then randomly allocated into model group, YTF low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, and the atorvastatin calcium group, with 8 rats in each group and 1 rat reserved. The YTF low-, medium-, and high-dose groups received YTF at 6, 12, and 18 g/(kg·d) by gavage, respectively. The atorvastatin calcium group received atorvastatin calcium tablets at 1.8 mg/(kg·d) by gavage. The control group and the model group received 0.9% sodium chloride injection at 4 ml/(kg·d) by gavage. All administrations were performed once daily for 3 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, serum lipid levels including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), myocardial enzymes including cardiac troponin T (cTnT), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and inflammatory factors including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by ELISA. Pathological changes in myocardial tissue were observed via HE staining. Whole blood DNA methylation sequencing was used to analyze differential methylation gene expression among the control group, model group, and YTF high-dose group. Western Blotting was used to verify the protein levels of the key genes and downstream signaling pathways. ResultsCompared to the control group, the model group showed increased levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, cTnT, CK-MB, LDH, and IL-1β, along with decreased levels of HDL-C and IL-10 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the model group, all treatment groups exhibited decreased levels of TC, LDL-C, CK-MB, and LDH, along with increased IL-10 levels. Among these, the high-dose YTF group demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing cTnT levels compared to the other TCM groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining indicated that the YTF high-dose group ameliorated myocardial cell swelling, disordered arrangement, pyknosis, and disappearance of nuclei, thereby reducing myocardial cell damage. Whole blood DNA methylation sequencing identified 240 differentially methylated genes shared by the control group, model group, and YTF high-dose group, including 109 hypermethylated and 131 hypomethylated genes; eif2ak3 was identified as a key differentially methylated gene. Compared to the control group, the model group exhibited increased protein levels of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3 (eIf2ak3), phosphorylated protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (p-PERK), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and Bax, along with a decreased level of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the YTF high-dose group showed decreased protein levels of eIf2ak3, p-PERK, ATF4, CHOP, and Bax, and an increased level of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionYTF may regulate key differentially methylated genes such as eIf2ak3 and the PERK/ATF4/CHOP signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress, reducing myocardial cell apoptosis, and exerting therapeutic effects in coronary heart disease blood stasis syndrome.
4.Current Status and Evaluation Considerations of Constructing Disease-syndrome Combination Models for Spleen Deficiency with Dampness Pattern in Ulcerative Colitis
Xuming HUANG ; Leichang ZHANG ; Na WU ; Guangbin SHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Jiaqi CHEN ; Xiaojun YAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):233-243
The disease-syndrome combination model of spleen deficiency with dampness pattern in ulcerative colitis(SDDP-UC) is an important experimental carrier for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research on the prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), and the quality of model construction and evaluation directly influences the scientific rigor and translational value of related research conclusions. However, this field still lacks methodological synthesis and a standardized consensus. Based on a comprehensive review of existing literature, this paper summarized isomorphic cues between the spleen deficiency with dampness pattern and UC across four dimensions, including energy metabolism, immune homeostasis, mucosal barrier, and intestinal microecology. The cues were mainly involved in impaired mitochondrial energy supply and glucose metabolic reprogramming, a lowered pro-inflammatory threshold of innate immunity with insufficient adaptive immune regulation, disruption of epithelial barrier gating accompanied by compromised repair capacity, and attenuation of the luminal hypoxia barrier with accumulation of toxic metabolites. A mutually reinforcing process between local "form damage" and systemic "Qi depletion" was further interpreted from a holistic perspective. Regarding modeling strategies, existing studies predominantly use rats as the carrier, apply combined interventions such as improper diet, external damp exposure, and fatigue-related dysregulation to establish the spleen deficiency with dampness pattern background, and subsequently superimpose chemical stimulation to induce UC-like colonic damage, with a total modeling period generally spanning three to four weeks. In terms of the evaluation system, a multidimensional framework integrating syndrome assessment, histopathology, mechanistic indices, and pharmacodynamic counter-verification was outlined. On this basis, current methodological bottlenecks of models were systematically identified, including syndrome drift risk and compounded stress dilemma in temporal sequencing, syndrome confounding from etiological simulation, cross-sectional evaluation bias related to modeling duration, inadequate disease-syndrome linkage and control design within the evaluation system, and limited controls with overly single-track decision logic in formula-based syndrome verification. To address the above issues, a construction and evaluation strategy emphasizing streamlining of core etiological factors, multi-node dynamic monitoring, integration of core disease-syndrome indicator clusters, and establishment of a formula-based syndrome verification system was proposed, providing a reference for the standardized construction and scientific evaluation of the SDDP-UC model.
5.Change patterns of functional connectivity of basal forebrain subregions in Alzheimer disease patients
Yujie HE ; Shaozhen YAN ; Zhigeng CHEN ; Sheng BI ; Hanxiao XUE ; Bixiao CUI ; Jie MA ; Jie LU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(5):701-705
Objective To observe the change patterns of functional connectivity(FC)of basal forebrain subregions in Alzheimer disease(AD)patients.Methods Totally 42 AD patients(AD group)and 41 healthy controls(HC group)were retrospectively enrolled.Seed-based FC analysis was performed on basal forebrain subregions(Ch123 and Ch4)based on their resting-state functional MRI data and compared between groups.Results Compared with HC group,FC between left Ch4 and left hippocampus as well as left posterior cingulate gyrus significantly decreased,but between right Ch4 and right precentral gyrus,as well as right postcentral gyrus increased in AD group(GRF correction,voxel level P<0.001,cluster level P<0.05).Meanwhile,FC between left Ch123 and left superior temporal gyrus,left insula,between right Ch123 and left superior temporal gyrus,left temporal pole significantly increased,while between right Ch123 and right orbital superior frontal gyrus,right orbital inferior frontal gyrus significantly decreased in AD group(GRF correction,voxel level P<0.001,cluster level P<0.05).Conclusion FC changes of different basal forebrain subregions in AD patients were various.
6.Effect of joint management of type 2 diabetes mellitus between specialty department and community health under National Diabetes Prevention and Control Center (DPCC) model
Ying HUANG ; Yi QIAN ; Xuchi WU ; Zhongyu ZHOU ; Cong WANG ; Lin WANG ; Caiyan HUANG ; Zhuangsen CHEN ; Yanrong ZHANG ; Shanshan WANG ; Lu WANG ; Jie WAN ; Ruihong YANG ; Huiya WANG ; Yan CHEN ; Cheng HE ; Kun FENG ; Dewen YAN
Journal of Chinese Physician 2025;27(3):338-342
Objective:To analyze the effect of joint management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) between specialty and community under the model of National Diabetes Prevention and Control Center (DPCC).Methods:A total of 2 527 T2DM patients managed by DPCC Pingshan Center of Shenzhen from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 were retrospectively included. After management, the rate of downturn, reexamination rate, blood pressure compliance rate, metabolic indicators (waist circumference, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipids) and screening rate of chronic complications of diabetes (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, microvascular disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy) were analyzed. Those included 2022 ( n=564), 2023 ( n=1 477), and 2024 ( n=2 527). Results:The downturn rate in 2022, 2023 and 2024 increased year by year (22.8% vs 67.2% vs 89.9%, P<0.01), and the review rate (41.1% vs 62.2% vs 52.7%, P<0.01), complication screening rate (51.6% vs 85.3% vs 62.2%, P<0.01), blood pressure compliance rate (53.1% vs 78.0% vs 67.2%, P<0.01), body mass index compliance rate (13.2% vs 17.3% vs 28.6%, P<0.01), fasting blood glucose meeting rate (46.4% vs 60.2% vs 68.5%, P<0.01), glycated hemoglobin meeting rate (58.4% vs 63.2% vs 45.6%, P<0.01) were relatively improved. Waist circumference compliance rate (30.6% vs 27.7% vs 21.6%) and blood lipid compliance rate (33.6% vs 35.5% vs 31.9%) were not significantly improved, and the review rate, blood pressure compliance rate and complication screening rate in 2024 were lower than those in 2023 and higher than those in 2022. Conclusions:The combined management of type 2 diabetes under the DPCC model has significant effects on improving the down-conversion rate, rediagnosis rate, blood pressure compliance rate, metabolic index compliance rate and the screening rate of diabetes-related chronic complications in patients with diabetes. At the same time, it was also found that with the progress of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, the review rate, complication screening rate, blood pressure, waist circumference, blood lipid and glycosylated hemoglobin reached the standard of patients decreased compared with the previous situation, which needs to be further analyzed and improved.
7.Design and implementation of an outcome-based education-based online + offline course integrating medical specialty and humanistic spirit
Yan WANG ; Zhibiao WANG ; Faqi LI ; Yuan PENG ; Jie XU ; Jingwen YU ; Jinyun CHEN
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(4):535-539
The "minimally-invasive and non-invasive diagnosis and treatment of the most important tumor in gynecology", which is an online + offline first-class undergraduate course in Chongqing, China, was used as an example to demonstrate how to explore the integration of medical specialty with humanistic spirit in the design and construction of courses for medical students, and to strengthen the early cultivation of medical humanistic spirit. Based on the concept of outcome-based education, innovative course content and teaching modes were designed to guide students to learn the history of focused ultrasound therapy technology, understand the concept of minimally-invasive and non-invasive medicine, and incorporate the literacy cultivation of "always having compassion". This study explored the importance of incorporating humanistic spirit into medical education and provides new ideas and concepts for the cultivation of physicians with humanity and compassion.
8.Impact of postoperative complications on adverse outcomes following curative-intent resection for gallbladder cancer: a national multicenter real-world study
Zhipeng LIU ; Cheng CHEN ; Jie BAI ; Yan JIANG ; Dong ZHANG ; Wei GUO ; Zhixin WANG ; Xiang LAN ; Yufu YE ; Zhaoping WU ; Jinxue ZHOU ; Shuo JIN ; Yi ZHU ; Wei CHEN ; Dalong YIN ; Yao CHENG ; Haisu DAI ; Lei ZHANG ; Zhiyu CHEN
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(7):874-881
Objective:To investigate the impact of postoperative complications on adverse outcomes following curative-intent resection for gallbladder cancer (GBC).Methods:The multi-center real-world study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 629 patients with GBC, who were admitted to 14 medical centers including The First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from the national multicenter database of Biliary Surgery Group of Elite Group of Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery, from April 2020 to April 2024 were collected. There were 225 males and 404 females, aged (64±10)years. Patients underwent open curative-intent resection for GBC. Observation indicators: (1)surgery, postoperative complica-tions and adverse outcomes; (2) analysis of risk factors affecting postoperative adverse outcomes in patients and population attributable fraction (PAF). Missing data in predictor variables were addressed using multiple imputation with chained equations, while cases with missing outcome variables were addressed using the "multiple imputation then deletion (MID)" strategy. The severity of multicollinearity among independent variables was assessed using the variance inflation factor (VIF) test. Multivariable possion regression models with log link and robust error variance were construc-ted incorporating restricted cubic splines (3 knots) to address nonlinear relationships in continuous variables, calculating adjusted relative risk ( RR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval ( CI). Adjusted PAF was calculated for each imputed dataset using the AF package of R software, with subsequent pooling performed according to Rubin's rules. Results:(1) Surgery, postoperative complications and adverse outcomes. All 629 patients underwent curative-intent resection for GBC, of which 143 cases had postoperative complications, including 68 cases of intra-abdominal ascites, 39 cases of pulmonary infection, 21 cases of bile leakage, 12 cases of intra-abdominal hemorrhage, 11 cases of liver failure, 10 cases of pan-creatic fistula, 10 cases of wound infection, 10 cases of gastroparesis, 7 cases of cholangitis, 7 cases of sepsis. The same patient could have more than one kind of complication. Of 629 patients, there were 19 cases of postoperative 90-day death and 11 cases of missing data, 42 cases with post-operative 90-day reoperation and 7 cases with missing data, 44 cases with postoperative 90-day readmission and 3 cases with missing data, 155 cases with prolonged postoperative hospital stay and 3 cases with missing data. (2) Analysis of risk factors affecting the postoperative adverse outcomes in patients and PAF. Results of multivariate analysis showed that pulmonary infection and liver failure were independent risk factors for postoperative 90-day mortality ( RR=3.74, 12.15, 95% CI as 1.18-11.83, 1.98-74.48, P<0.05). Pulmonary infection demons-trated the highest PAF as 4.61% (95% CI as 3.94%-5.28%, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites, pulmonary infection, bile leakage, and intra-abdominal hemorrhage were independent risk factors for post-operative 90-day reoperation ( RR=4.80, 3.62, 3.46, 4.99, 95% CI as 2.49-9.26, 1.42-9.21, 1.34-8.92, 1.55-16.06, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites demonstrated the highest PAF as 8.65% (95% CI as 8.22%-9.08%, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites, bile leakage, and liver failure were independent risk factors for postoperative 90-day readmission ( RR=6.20, 3.33, 14.33, 95% CI as 3.21-11.95, 1.33-8.35, 3.72-55.28, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites demonstrated the highest PAF as 9.11% (95% CI as 8.85%-9.37%, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites, pulmonary infection, bile leakage, liver failure, and wound infection were independent risk factors for prolonged postoperative hospital stay ( RR=2.29, 2.21, 2.26, 2.14, 3.35, 95% CI as 1.63-3.23, 1.41-3.46, 1.32-3.86, 1.11-4.13, 1.70-6.60, P<0.05). Intra-abdominal ascites demonstrated the highest PAF as 6.03% (95% CI as 5.71%-6.35%, P<0.05). Conclusion:Pulmonary infection is the most significant risk factor for postoperative 90-day mortality after curative-intent resection for GBC, while intra-abdominal ascites is the most significant risk factor for postoperative 90-day reoperation, postoperative 90-day readmission, and prolonged postoperative hospital stay.
9.Analysis of influencing factors for safe abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral hernia based on imaging and clinical features
Xuan CAI ; Yuchang YAN ; Xuechao DU ; Fan WANG ; Zhenyu PAN ; Jie CHEN
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(9):1198-1207
Objective:To investigate the influencing factors for safe abdominal wall recons-truction in giant ventral hernia based on imaging and clinical features.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The imaging and clinical data of 369 patients with giant ventral hernia who were admitted to Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 2017 to December 2023 were collected. There were 182 males and 187 females, aged (63±14)years. Among 369 patients, 311 cases underwent safe abdominal wall reconstruction and 58 underwent high-risk abdominal wall reconstruction. Observation indicators: (1) clinical and imaging characteris-tics; (2) analysis of influencing factors for safe abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral hernia. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribution between groups was conducted using the t test. Comparison of measurement data with skewed distribution between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data between groups was conducted using the nonparametic rank sum test. Logistic regression, Lasso regression, and random forest analyses were used for influencing factors analysis. Results:(1) Clinical and imaging characteristics. There were significant differences between patients with safe and high-risk abdominal wall reconstruction in presence of a definite secondary abdominal cavity, maximum axial diameter of the defect, maximum transverse diameter of the defect, abdominal wall defect area, component separation index (CSI), abdominal wall opening angle, ratio of CSI, muscle grayscale at the defect, hernia sac volume, hernia sac-abdominal cavity volume ratio, and defect long-axis-to-abdominal cavity ratio ( P<0.05). (2) Analysis of influencing factors for safe abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral hernia. Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that presence of a definite secondary abdominal cavity, maximum axial diameter of the defect, maximum transverse diameter of the defect, abdominal wall defect area, CSI, abdominal wall opening angle, ratio of CSI, muscle grayscale at the defect (inner-superior or right), hernia sac volume, hernia sac-abdominal cavity volume ratio, and defect long-axis-to-abdominal cavity ratio were factors associated with safe abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral hernia [ odds ratio ( OR)=3.955, 1.189, 1.395, 1.127, 2.006, 1.042, 1.095, 0.881, 1.102, 1.109, 1.601, 95% confidence interval ( CI) as 2.179-7.178, 1.113-1.271, 1.267-1.537, 1.090-1.166, 1.651-2.437, 1.014-1.071, 1.066-1.125, 0.798-0.972, 1.057-1.148, 1.067-1.153, 1.343-1.909]. The top 3 factors for discriminative performance were abdominal wall CSI, ratio of CSI, maximum transverse diameter of the defect and the abdominal wall defect area, with area under the curve of 0.794, 0.777, 0.772, and 0.772, respectively. Results of Lasso regression analysis showed that body mass index, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, presence of a definite secondary abdominal cavity, abdominal wall defect area, abdominal wall opening angle, abdominal wall CSI, muscle grayscale at the defect (inner-superior or right), and hernia sac-to-abdominal cavity volume ratio were associated factors with safe abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral hernia (coefficients as -0.002, 0.003, 0.007, 0.014, 0.021, 0.077, 0.023, 0.059, -0.010, 0.037). Results of random forest analysis showed the abdominal wall CSI, maximum transverse diameter of the defect, abdominal wall defect area, ratio of defectr opening angle, maximum axial long diameter of the defect, hernia sac-to-abdominal cavity volume ratio, abdominal wall opening angle, defect long-axis-to-abdominal cavity ratio, muscle grayscale at the defect (inner-superior or right), and body mass index as associated factors with safe abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral hernia (importance score=0.092, 0.089, 0.079, 0.056, 0.051, 0.047, 0.045, 0.039, 0.038, 0.035). Conclusion:Abdominal wall CSI, abdominal wall defect area, abdominal wall opening angle, muscle grayscale at the defect (inner-superior or right), and hernia sac-to-abdominal cavity volume ratio are factors associated with safe abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral hernia.
10.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.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail