Objective To compare and analyze the application value of brain black blood technology three-dimensional BrainVIEW(3D-BrainVIEW)and conventional three-dimensional turbo field echo T1 weighted imaging(3D-TFE T1WI)in brain metastases of lung cancer.Methods A total of 60 patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer were selected.All patients underwent brain enhanced MRI using 3D-BrainVIEW and 3D-TFE T1WI.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of the two groups were compared and analyzed,respectively.The diagnostic efficacy(including number,size,and location)of the two groups of images in detecting brain metastases was evaluated by two experienced radiologists via double-blind method.Results The diagnostic consistency between the two radiologists was excellent[intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)=0.998,P<0.001].There were significant differences in SNR,CNR,and the number and location of brain metastases between 3D-BrainVIEW sequence and 3D-TFE T1WI sequence(P<0.05),and 3D-BrainVIEW sequence was significantly superior to 3D-TFE T1WI sequence.In addition,the number of brain metastases detected by 3D-Brain VIEW sequence was significantly higher than that detected by 3D-TFE T1WI sequence in lesions with minimum diameter(Dmin)<5 mm(P<0.001).There was no difference in the number of lesions detected by the two sequences in lesions with Dmin>5 mm(P>0.05).Conclusion The SNR and CNR of 3D-Brain VIEW enhanced scan images are significantly higher than those of 3D-TFE T1WI,which has higher detection efficiency for lung cancer brain metastases,and can effectively reduce misdiagnosis caused by microvascular enhance-ment,which has high clinical application value.

Objective To observe the value of 18F-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)-1007 PET/MRI for diagnosing seminal vesicle invasion(SVI)of prostatic cancer(PCa).Methods Totally 92 male patients with PCa who underwent radical prostatectomy were retrospectively enrolled and divided into positive group(n=26)and negative group(n=66)based on postoperative pathology showed SVI or not.PET/MRI parameters,including maximum standard uptake value(SUVmax),minimum apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmin),mean apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmean),SUVmax/ADCmin,SUVmax/ADCmean,PSMA tumor volume(PSMA-TV)and total lesion PSMA(TL-PSMA)were compared between groups.The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,and the efficacy of each parameter for diagnosing SVI was analyzed.Results Among 92 cases of PCa,18F-PSMA-1007 PET/MRI showed 30 cases with SVI and 62 cases without SVI,with accuracy of 73.91％,sensitivity of 61.54％,specificity of 78.79％,positive predictive value of 53.33％and negative predictive value of 83.87％.Significant differences of ADCmin,PSMA-TV and TL-PSMA were found between groups(all P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of SUVmax,ADCmin,ADCmean,SUVmax/ADCmin,SUVmax/ADCmean,PSMA-TV and TL-PSMA for diagnosing SVI of PCa was 0.554,0.341,0.396,0.603,0.581,0.755 and 0.705,respectively.The AUC of PSMA-TV was higher than other parameters except for TL-PSMA,with sensitivity of 84.60％and specificity of 56.10％.Conclusion 18 F-PSMA-1007 PET/MRI was helpful for diagnosing SVI of PCa.

Objective To compare and analyze the application value of brain black blood technology three-dimensional BrainVIEW(3D-BrainVIEW)and conventional three-dimensional turbo field echo T1 weighted imaging(3D-TFE T1WI)in brain metastases of lung cancer.Methods A total of 60 patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer were selected.All patients underwent brain enhanced MRI using 3D-BrainVIEW and 3D-TFE T1WI.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of the two groups were compared and analyzed,respectively.The diagnostic efficacy(including number,size,and location)of the two groups of images in detecting brain metastases was evaluated by two experienced radiologists via double-blind method.Results The diagnostic consistency between the two radiologists was excellent[intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)=0.998,P<0.001].There were significant differences in SNR,CNR,and the number and location of brain metastases between 3D-BrainVIEW sequence and 3D-TFE T1WI sequence(P<0.05),and 3D-BrainVIEW sequence was significantly superior to 3D-TFE T1WI sequence.In addition,the number of brain metastases detected by 3D-Brain VIEW sequence was significantly higher than that detected by 3D-TFE T1WI sequence in lesions with minimum diameter(Dmin)<5 mm(P<0.001).There was no difference in the number of lesions detected by the two sequences in lesions with Dmin>5 mm(P>0.05).Conclusion The SNR and CNR of 3D-Brain VIEW enhanced scan images are significantly higher than those of 3D-TFE T1WI,which has higher detection efficiency for lung cancer brain metastases,and can effectively reduce misdiagnosis caused by microvascular enhance-ment,which has high clinical application value.

Objective To observe the value of 18F-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)-1007 PET/MRI for diagnosing seminal vesicle invasion(SVI)of prostatic cancer(PCa).Methods Totally 92 male patients with PCa who underwent radical prostatectomy were retrospectively enrolled and divided into positive group(n=26)and negative group(n=66)based on postoperative pathology showed SVI or not.PET/MRI parameters,including maximum standard uptake value(SUVmax),minimum apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmin),mean apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCmean),SUVmax/ADCmin,SUVmax/ADCmean,PSMA tumor volume(PSMA-TV)and total lesion PSMA(TL-PSMA)were compared between groups.The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,and the efficacy of each parameter for diagnosing SVI was analyzed.Results Among 92 cases of PCa,18F-PSMA-1007 PET/MRI showed 30 cases with SVI and 62 cases without SVI,with accuracy of 73.91％,sensitivity of 61.54％,specificity of 78.79％,positive predictive value of 53.33％and negative predictive value of 83.87％.Significant differences of ADCmin,PSMA-TV and TL-PSMA were found between groups(all P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of SUVmax,ADCmin,ADCmean,SUVmax/ADCmin,SUVmax/ADCmean,PSMA-TV and TL-PSMA for diagnosing SVI of PCa was 0.554,0.341,0.396,0.603,0.581,0.755 and 0.705,respectively.The AUC of PSMA-TV was higher than other parameters except for TL-PSMA,with sensitivity of 84.60％and specificity of 56.10％.Conclusion 18 F-PSMA-1007 PET/MRI was helpful for diagnosing SVI of PCa.

Objective:To synthesize non-contrast-enhanced CT images from enhanced CT images using deep learning method based on convolutional neural network, and to evaluate the similarity between synthesized non-contrast-enhanced CT images by deep learning(DL-SNCT) and plain CT images considered as gold standard subjectively and objectively, as well as to explore their potential clinical value.Methods:Thirty-four patients who underwent conventional plain scan and enhanced CT scan at the same time were enrolled. Using deep learning model, DL-SNCT images were generated from the enhanced CT images for each patient. With plain CT images as gold standard, the image quality of DL-SNCT images was evaluated subjectively. The evaluation indices included anatomical structure clarity, artifacts, noise level, image structure integrity and image deformation using a 4-point system). Paired t-test was used to compare the difference in CT values of different anatomical parts with different hemodynamics (aorta, kidney, liver parenchyma, gluteus maximus) and different liver diseases with distinct enhancement patterns (liver cancer, liver hemangioma, liver metastasis and liver cyst) between DL-SNCT images and plain CT images. Results:In subjective evaluation, the average scores of DL-SNCT images in artifact, noise, image structure integrity and image distortion were all 4 points, which were consistent with those of plain CT images ( P>0.05). However, the average score of anatomical clarity was slightly lower than that of plain CT images (3.59±0.70 vs. 4) with significant difference ( Z = -2.89, P<0.05). For different anatomical parts, the CT values of aorta and kidney in DL-SNCT images were significantly higher than those in plain CT images ( t=-12.89, -9.58, P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the CT values of liver parenchyma and gluteus maximus between DL-SNCT images and plain CT images ( P>0.05). For liver lesions with different enhancement patterns, the CT values of liver cancer, liver hemangioma and liver metastasis in DL-SNCT images were significantly higher than those in plain CT images( t=-10.84, -3.42, -3.98, P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the CT values of liver cysts between DL-SNCT iamges and plain CT images ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The DL-SNCT image quality as well as the CT values of some anatomical structures with simple enhancement patterns is comparable to those of plain CT images considered as gold-standard. For those anatomical structures with variable enhancement and those liver lesions with complex enhancement patterns, there is still vast space for DL-SNCT images to be improved before it can be readily used in clinical practice.

【Objective】 To investigate the effect of multiple apheresis platelet donation on platelet indexes and aggregation function in platelet donors, and to analyze the relationship between platelet indexes and their relationship with platelet aggregation rate. 【Methods】 A total of 83 platelet donors were randomly selected from Foshan Central Blood Station from September 2021 to October 2022, and were divided into control group (n= 9, first-time platelet donors or donors with the time interval from the last platelet donation >1 year) and study group (n= 74, repeat platelet donors or donors with the time interval from the last platelet donation ≤ 1 year) according to the times of blood donation. The study group was divided into 4 subgroups: 2-5 times group, 6-10 times group, 11-15 times group and 16 times group. The platelet count(Plt), platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), large platelet ratio (P-LCR), and maximum platelet aggregation rate (MAR) before donation in each group were detected and analyzed. 【Results】 There were no significant differences in Plt, MPV, PDW, P-LCR and MAR between the subgroups and the control group (P>0.05), and there were no significant differences in Plt, MPV, PDW, P-LCR and MAR between each subgroup (P>0.05) .There was a positive correlation between Plt and MAR in blood donors (P<0.05), and the correlation coefficient was 0.445. MPV, PDW and P-LCR were negatively correlated with MAR (P<0.05), and the correlation coefficients were -0.282, -0.233 and -0.217, respectively. Plt was negatively correlated with MPV, PDW and P-LCR (P < 0. 05), and the correlation coefficients were -0.399, -0.307 and -0.339, respectively. MPV, PDW and P-LCR are positively correlated with each other. The correlation coefficient between MPV and PDW was 0.792, that between MPV and P-LCR was 0.863, and tthat between PDW and P-LCR was 0.817. 【Conclusion】 There was no significant effect of multiple platelet donations on Plt, PDW, MPV, P-LCR and MAR in blood donors. Plt has the most significant impact on MAR among platelet indexes of platelet donors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for assessing disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with tofacitinib. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted among 98 RA patients in active stage treated with tofacitinib in Third Xiangya Hospital and 100 healthy control subjects from the Health Management Center of the hospital from 2019 to 2021. We collected blood samples from all the participants for measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other blood parameters 1 month before and 6 months after tofacitinib treatment. We further evaluated PLR and NLR before and after tofacitinib treatment in the RA patients, and analyzed their correlations with RA disease activity. RESULTS: PLR and NLR increased significantly in RA patients as compared with the healthy controls. In the RA patients, PLR and NLR were positively correlated with the levels of hs- CRP, ESR, IL- 6, Disease Activity Score of 28 joints-ESR (DAS28-ESR), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) before and after tofacitinib treatment. Tofacitinib treatment for 6 months significantly decreased hs-CRP, ESR, IL-6, CCP, RF and DAS28-ESR levels in the RA patients. CONCLUSION NLR and PLR can be useful biomarkers for assessing disease activity in RA patients treated with tofacitinib.
Humans ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Lymphocytes

A 78-year-old female patient with atrial fibrillation developed tarry stools after regularly taking dronedarone, metoprolol, and rivaroxaban for 3 months. The patient stopped using rivaroxaban by herself for 7 days, and her black stools was gradually improved. After taking rivaroxaban again for 1 month, black stools appeared again, accompanied by fatigue, dizziness, and amaurosis fugax. Her blood pressure was 90/50 mmHg, heart rate was 80 beats/min, and hemoglobin was 55 g/L. Rivaroxaban was discontinued again and supportive treatments such as soft food, acid suppression, fluid replacement, and blood transfusion were given. After 3 days of treatments, the symptoms of fatigue were improved significantly, and no amaurosis recurred when sitting up. Hemoglobin was 75 g/L. After 6 days of treatments, the patient discharged formed yellow soft stools. After excluding gastrointestinal tumors through gastroscopy and tumor marker examination, it was considered that the interaction of dronedarone and rivaroxaban caused the increase of rivaroxaban plasma concentration, which resulted in gastrointestinal bleeding in the patient. The patient′s anticoagulant medication was changed to dabigatran etexilate, and no gastrointestinal bleeding occurred.

A 78-year-old female patient with atrial fibrillation developed tarry stools after regularly taking dronedarone, metoprolol, and rivaroxaban for 3 months. The patient stopped using rivaroxaban by herself for 7 days, and her black stools was gradually improved. After taking rivaroxaban again for 1 month, black stools appeared again, accompanied by fatigue, dizziness, and amaurosis fugax. Her blood pressure was 90/50 mmHg, heart rate was 80 beats/min, and hemoglobin was 55 g/L. Rivaroxaban was discontinued again and supportive treatments such as soft food, acid suppression, fluid replacement, and blood transfusion were given. After 3 days of treatments, the symptoms of fatigue were improved significantly, and no amaurosis recurred when sitting up. Hemoglobin was 75 g/L. After 6 days of treatments, the patient discharged formed yellow soft stools. After excluding gastrointestinal tumors through gastroscopy and tumor marker examination, it was considered that the interaction of dronedarone and rivaroxaban caused the increase of rivaroxaban plasma concentration, which resulted in gastrointestinal bleeding in the patient. The patient′s anticoagulant medication was changed to dabigatran etexilate, and no gastrointestinal bleeding occurred.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plain scan and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of brain metastases.Methods:The MRI plain imaging findings of 105 cases with brain metastases and 103 cases without brain metastases confirmed by enhanced MRI examination and clinical diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed. The comparisons of plain MRI findings including T1 weighted image (T1WI), T2WI, T2/fluid attenuated inversion recovery (T2/FLAIR), DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were made between brain metastases and non-brain metastases.Results:The numbers of hypo-intensity, iso-intensity, hyper-intensity and heterogeneous signal intensity of T1WI in the brain metastatic group were 54, 23, 9 and 19, respectively, while the numbers of hypo-intensity and iso-intensity in the non-brain metastatic group were 52 and 51, respectively, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.001). The numbers of hypo-intensity, iso-intensity, hyper-intensity and heterogeneous signal intensity of T2WI in the brain metastatic group were 1, 9, 72 and 23, respectively, while the numbers of iso-intensity and hyper-intensity in the non-brain metastatic group were 11 and 92, respectively, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.001). The numbers of hypo-intensity, hyper-intensity and heterogeneous signal intensity of DWI in the brain metastatic group were 4, 31 and 65, respectively, while the number of hyper-intensity in the non-brain metastatic group was 4 and others were iso-intensity, respectively, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.001). The numbers of hypo-intensity, iso-intensity, hyper-intensity and heterogeneous signal intensity of T2WI/FLAIR in the brain metastatic group were 4, 5, 60 and 36, respectively, while all cases in the non-brain metastatic group were hyper-intensity, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.001). The number of lesion accompanied with peripheral edema in the brain metastatic group were 69 cases, significantly higher than 0 cases in the non-brain metastatic group ( P<0.001). The mean ADC value in the brain metastatic group were (0.919±0.019)×10 -3 mm 2/s, significantly lower than (1.098±0.012)×10 -3 mm 2/s of non-brain metastatic group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:For patients with a history of primary malignancy, the MRI plain scan signals of T1WI, T2WI, T2WI/FLAIR and DWI are significantly different between brain metastatic tumor and non-metastatic tumor. The mixed signal, peripheral edema and the restriction of DWI diffusion indicate brain metastases. The combined application of the above parameters can improve the diagnostic efficacy of predicting brain metastases, and contrast enhancement MRI examination should be performed for the confirmation of diagnosis.