Objective To investigate the value of coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)for the non-invasive discrimination of chronic total occlusion(CTO)and subtotal occlu-sion(SO).Methods A total of 134 elderly patients undergoing CCTA and invasive coronary angio-graphy in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled,and assigned into CTO group(62 cases)and SO(72 cases)according to the results of the examinations.Occlusion length,shape of proximal stump(blunt/conical),and collateral vessels were measured as anatomical find-ings.Transluminal attenuation gradient was obtained by a post-processing software.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore factors related to CTO.Re-stricted cubic splines with three knots at the 10th,50th,and 90th percentiles were used to flexibly model the association of the factors with CTO,and ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the per-formance.Results Diabetes(OR=0.423,95％CI:0.186-0.963),occlusion length(OR=1.088,95％CI:1.031-1.148)and blunt-shaped stump(OR=2.453,95％CI:1.042-5.773)were inde-pendent predictors for discriminating CTO and SO(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC value of occlusion length in the discrimination was 0.718(95％CI:0.634-0.792,P=0.001).Conclusion CCTA can be used to discriminate CTO and SO in elderly patients.

In 2009,the World Health Organization included snakebite on the list of neglected tropical diseases,acknowledging it as a common occupational hazard for farmers,plantation workers,and others,causing tens of thousands of deaths and chronic physical disabilities every year.This guideline aims to provide practical information to help clinical professionals evaluate and treat snakebite victims.These recommendations are based on clinical experience and clinical research evidence.This guideline focuses on the following topics:snake venom,clinical manifestations,auxiliary examination,diagnosis,treatments,and prevention.

Objective To observe the value of clinical data combined with CT radiomics features for evaluating programmed cell death-ligand 1(PD-L1)status in gastric cancer.Methods Totally 277 gastric cancer patients were retrospectively enrolled and randomly divided into training set(n=195)and validation set(n=82)at the ratio of 7:3.There were 88 cases in PD-L1 positive subgroup and 107 cases in negative subgroup of training set,while 37 and 45 cases of validation set,respectively.The clinical and conventional CT features were compared between subgroups in both sets,the independent influencing factors of PD-L1 status in gastric cancer were analyzed,and radiomic features were screened based on CT data.Then clinical model,radiomics model and clinical-radiomics model were established,and the efficacy of each model for evaluating PD-L1 status in gastric cancer was observed.Results In training set,Borrmann type,cN stage,cM stage,clinical stage,maximum diameter and thickness were significant difference between subgroups(all P＜0.05).Borrmann type,clinical stage and the thickness were all independent influencing factors of PD-L1 positivity(all P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of clinical model,radiomic model and clinical-radiomics model for evaluating PD-L1 status in gastric cancer in training set was 0.748,0.832 and 0.841,respectively,and was 0.657,0.801 and 0.789 in validation set,respectively.AUC of clinical model was lower than the other models(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Clinical data combined with CT radiomics features was helpful for evaluating PD-L1 status in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia-like primary pulmonary lymphoma (PPL) was commonly misdiagnosed as infectious pneumonia, leading to delayed treatment. The purpose of this study was to establish a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics model to differentiate pneumonia-like PPL from infectious pneumonia. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 79 patients with pneumonia-like PPL and 176 patients with infectious pneumonia from 12 medical centers were enrolled. Patients from center 1 to center 7 were assigned to the training or validation cohort, and the remaining patients from other centers were used as the external test cohort. Radiomics features were extracted from CT images. A three-step procedure was applied for radiomics feature selection and radiomics signature building, including the inter- and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the significant clinicoradiological variables and construct a clinical factor model. Two radiologists reviewed the CT images for the external test set. Performance of the radiomics model, clinical factor model, and each radiologist were assessed by receiver operating characteristic, and area under the curve (AUC) was compared. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients (44 with pneumonia-like PPL and 100 infectious pneumonia) were in the training cohort, 38 patients (12 with pneumonia-like PPL and 26 infectious pneumonia) were in the validation cohort, and 73 patients (23 with pneumonia-like PPL and 50 infectious pneumonia) were in the external test cohort. Twenty-three radiomics features were selected to build the radiomics model, which yielded AUCs of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94-0.99), 0.93 (95% CI: 0.85-0.98), and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.87-0.99) in the training, validation, and external test cohort, respectively. The AUCs for the two readers and clinical factor model were 0.74 (95% CI: 0.63-0.83), 0.72 (95% CI: 0.62-0.82), and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62-0.84) in the external test cohort, respectively. The radiomics model outperformed both the readers' interpretation and clinical factor model ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The CT-based radiomics model may provide an effective and non-invasive tool to differentiate pneumonia-like PPL from infectious pneumonia, which might provide assistance for clinicians in tailoring precise therapy.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Pneumonia/diagnostic imaging* ; Analysis of Variance ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Lymphoma/diagnostic imaging*

Objective:To investigate the application value of spectral computed tomo-graphy (CT) multi-parameter imaging in predicting gastric cancer lymph node metastasis.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 86 patients with gastric cancer who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to June 2017 were collected. There were 53 males and 33 females, aged from 22 to 87 years, with a median age of 53 years. All patients received abdominal plain scan and arterial and venous phase contrast spectral scan. Images of plain scan, 70 keV monochromatic and iodine-based images in arterial and venous phase were analyzed on post-processing working station. Observation indicators: (1) gastric cancer lymph node metastasis; (2) analysis of influencing factors for lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer; (3) introduction of special cases. Count data were described as absolute numbers. Univariate analysis was performed using the chi-square test or rank sum test. Multivariate analysis was conducted using the Logistic regression model.Results:(1) Gastric cancer lymph node metastasis: of the 86 patients, 64 cases had lymph nodes metastasis and 22 had no lymph nodes metastasis. (2) Analysis of influencing factors for lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer: results of univariate analysis showed that tumor growth pattern, tumor diameter, infiltration of peritumor fat, CT value in arterial phase, CT value in venous phase, iodine value in venous phase were related factors affecting lymph nodes metastasis in gastric cancer ( χ2=6.753, Z=-3.180, χ2=7.649, Z=-2.051, -2.971, -2.547, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that infiltration of peritumor fat and the iodine value in venous phase were greater than 12(100 μg/cm 3) and not greater than 16(100 μg/cm 3), or greater than 16(100 μg/cm 3) were independent risk factors affecting lymph nodes metastasis in gastric cancer ( odds ratio=13.154, 3.761, 7.583, 95% confidence interval as 2.597-66.620, 1.893-8.572, 4.769-16.692, P<0.05). (3) Introduction of special cases: case 1 was male, aged 46 years. Results of preoperative spectral CT enhanced scan showed gastric antrum space occupying lesion combined with enlarged lymph nodes. During enhancement arterial phase, spectral CT 70 keV monochromatic images and corresponding iodine-based images of primary lesion layer in the transverse view showed gastric wall thickening with mild to moderate enhancement, clear fat space in serosa and enlarged lymph nodes in lesser curvature. The spectral CT 70 keV monochromatic images and corresponding iodine-based images below pylorus level in the transverse view showed subpyloric enlarged lymph nodes. During enhancement venous phase, the 70 keV monochromatic images and corresponding iodine-based images of primary lesion layer in the transverse view showed layered enhancement of gastric antrum lesions and mucosal enhancement, with a high iodine value. The patient was diagnosed as gastric antrum cancer with lymph node metastasis, no serosal or peritumoral fat invasion. Results of postoperative pathological examination showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of gastric antrum with serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis. Case 2 was male, aged 53 years. Results of preoperative spectral CT enhanced scan showed gastric cancer of lesser curvature combined with enlarged lymph nodes. During enhancement arterial phase, 70 keV monochromatic images and corresponding iodine-based images of primary lesion layer in the transverse view showed gastric wall heterogeneous thickening of lesser curvature, with moderate enhancement, obscure peritumor fat space, unclear serosa, and multiple enlarged lymph nodes in lesser curvature. During enhancement venous phase, 70 keV monochromatic images in the transverse view showed unclear boundary between lesions and enlarged lymph nodes in lesser curvature, obscure peritumor fat. During enhancement arterial phase, 70 keV monochromatic images of celiac trunk layer in the transverse view showed parasplenic artery lymph nodes, with circular enhancement and no enhancement in central necrotic elements. The patient was diagnosed as gastric cancer of lesser curvature with lymph node metastasis, serosal and peritumor fat invasion. Results of postoperative pathological examination showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of gastric antrum with serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion:The infiltration of peritumor fat and iodine value in venous phase are independent factors affecting gastric cancer lymph node metastasis.

Objective : To evaluate the excess mortality risk related to heat wave in Ningbo, Zhejiang from 2013 to 2018, so as to provide a basis for formulating coping strategies for heat wave. Methods : The data of daily mortality, meteorological and air quality from May to October in Ningbo from 2013 to 2018 were obtained from Ningbo Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo Meteorological Bureau and Environmental Monitoring Center of Ningbo, respectively. The generalized linear model ( GLM ) and distributed lag non-linear model ( DLNM ) were used to estimate the associations between heat wave and cause-specific mortality. Results : Among 1 104 days of the study period, 18 heat waves occured and lasted for 132 days, accounting for 11.96%. A total of 102 954 deaths were reported in the same period. The risks of mortality in circulatory system diseases ( RR=1.09, 95%CI: 1.03-1.16 ), respiratory system diseases ( RR=1.14, 95%CI: 1.04-1.25 ), digestive system diseases ( RR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.15-1.65 ), nervous system diseases ( RR=1.32, 95%CI: 1.08-1.61 ), mental disorders ( RR=1.51, 95%CI: 1.12-2.03 ) and accidental injury ( RR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.06-1.32 ) and all causes ( RR=1.10, 95%CI: 1.06-1.14 ) increased at lag 0-1 day of heat wave. The total excess death related to heat wave was 1 218 ( 95%CI: 731-1 705 ) . The excess deaths of circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases, accidental injury, digestive system diseases, nervous system diseases, mental disorders, urinary system diseases and endocrine system diseases were 313 ( 95%CI: 104-556 ), 206 ( 95%CI: 59-368 ), 164 ( 95%CI: 55-292 ), 122 ( 95%CI: 48-208 ), 69 ( 95%CI: 17-131 ), 56 ( 95%CI: 13-113 ), 18 ( 95%CI: -15-64 ) and 3 ( 95%CI: -51-72 ). The excess deaths of urinary system and endocrine system diseases was not statistically significant ( P>0.05 ). Conclusion Heat wave can increase the mortality risk on the day and after a day in Ningbo from 2013 to 2018. Circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases and accidental injury rank top three in excess deaths.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of energy spectrum CT combined with high concentration iodine contrast agent (400 mg/ml) for hepatic venous system CT angiography in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS).Methods:A total of 48 patients with BCS who underwent the hepatic venous system CT angiography were prospectively collected from March to August 2019 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Patients were randomly divided into control group (350 mg /ml) and study group (400 mg /ml). In the control group, the dosage of iodine contrast agent was 1.6 ml/kg, and the flow rate was 4.0 ml/s. In the study group, the dosage of iodine contrast agent was 1.4 ml/kg. Double-flow rate injection protocol was used in the study group, i.e. 3.50 ml/s (80% dosage), 1.75 ml/s (20% dosage), 3.50 ml/s (40 ml normal saline). Revolution CT scanner was used for energy spectrum scanning. Quantitative parameters, qualitative visual parameters and radiation dose were compared between the two groups. Wilcoxon test, t test, χ 2 test and Mann-Whitney U test were used. Results:The dosage of iodine contrast agent in the study group [(94.53±16.02) ml] was lower than that in the control group [(106.40±20.19) ml, t=2.257, P<0.05]. The injection speed of the control group was higher than that of the study group (4.00 ml/s and 3.15 ml/s). CT values of portal vein, hepatic vein, inferior vena cava, and hepatic parenchyma, signal to noise ratio, contrast noise ratio, CT dose index, dose length product, effective dose and subjective scores showed no significant differences between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:For patients with BCS, high quality images could be obtained to meet the requirement of diagnosis in hepatic vein system CT angiography using high concentration iodine contrast agent (400 mg/ml) with low dosage of contrast agent and low flow rate.

Objective Toanalyzethedifferencesofthecoronaryarterycalciumscore,andtheprevalence,severity,characteristics ofcoronaryarteryplaquesbetweenAIDSinfectedfemaleandmale.Methods 158AIDSpatients(72femalesand86 males)and102 HIVGuninfectedpatients(49femalesand53 males)withsuspectedcoronaryarterydiseaseinourhospitalwereenrolledbetween March2017andFebruary2018.Patientsunderwentcoronarycomputedtomographyangiography (CCTA)bythethirdgenerationdual sourceforceCT.Thedifferencesofcoronaryarteryplaquesbetweengenderswereassessed.Results In HIVGuninfectedpatients,the prevalenceoftotalplaque,mixedplaque,severestenosisandtwoGvesseldiseasewassignificantlyhigherinmalethanfemale(allP＜0.05) andtheprevalenceofnonGcalcifiedplaquewassignificantlylowerinmalethanfemale(allP＜0.05).InAIDSpatients,theprevalence oftotalplaque,calcifiedplaque,severestenosisandCACS＞100wassignificantlyhigherin malethanfemale(allP＜0.05)andthe prevalenceofnonGcalcifiedplaqueandmixedplaquesignificantlywaslowerinmalethanfemale(allP＜0.05).Theprevalenceofthree ormorevesselsdiseasein maleAIDSpatientswassignificantlyhigherthanfemaleAIDSpatients.Conclusion MaleAIDSpatients havehighercoronarycalcifiedscoreandheaviercoronaryatherosclerosisburdens.Inaddition,femaleAIDSpatientshavelesscoronary atherosclerosisburdens,butmixedplaqueseemtobemorefrequently.

Objective To investigate the CT feasures of hepatic perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComa),to improve the understanding and diagnosis of this disease.Methods CT findings and clinical data of 13 patients with hepatic PEComa were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among the 1 3 PEComa patients,2 cases were multiple focis and 1 1 cases were single lesion.The maximum diameter of the lesions ranges from 26 mm to 96 mm,with mean diameter (52.77±24.94)mm.The density of 6 cases large lesions was heterogeneous on plain CT image,and the atery phase showed significantly inhomogeneous enhancement and the enhancement decreased in venous phase.7 cases of small lesions was homogeneous in density and showed uniform enhancement in arterial phase.The adjacent organs were compressed in 4 cases,the hepatic artery was located at the margin or inside the tumor in 4 cases,the portal vein or its branch passed through the tumor in 2 cases,and the inferior vena cava was compressed and shifted in 1 case.Conclusion CT manifestations of hepatic PEComa have some characteristics,when the tumor shows homogeneous in density and uniform enhancement in arterial phase,and the enhancement decreases in venous phase,with the thick vessel in the center or at the peripheral,it may prompt diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the influence of low-tube current in combination with simultaneous iterative reconstruction algorithm on bone mineral density (BMD) of T12 and image quality with a chest phantom.Methods An adult male chest phantom was selected.CT scan of the chest was performed at tube voltage of 120 kV and five different tube currents (20,30,40,50,60 mAs) in combination with filtered back projection (FBP),iDose4 (Level 4) and iterative model reconstruction (IMR,Level 2),respectively.BMD of T12 in chest phantom and objective evaluation results on different tube currents and simultaneous iterative reconstruction techniques were compared.The subjective scoring of mediastinum and lung window imaging qualities at tube current of 20 mAs with IMR and tube current of 60 mAs with FBP were compared.The consistency between two observers was evaluated.Results There was no significant difference between BMD values nor CT values on different tube currents and simultaneous iterative reconstruction techniques of chest phantom (all P＞ 0.05),but the differences between SD values were statistically significant (P＜ 0.001).SD values obtained with IMR were lower than those of iDose4 and FBP at same tube currents (all P＜0.001).At tube current of 60 mAs with FBP,the consistency of two observers in mediastinum window was the best (Kappa=1,P＜0.001),while in lung window was medium (Kappa=0.64,P=0.002).At tube current of 20 mAs with IMR,the consistency of two observers in mediastinum window was medium (Kappa=0.64,P=0.002),while in lung window was the best (Kappa=1.00,P＜0.001).Conclusion Low-tube current in combination with simultaneous iterative reconstruction algorithm can reduce radiation dose without affecting the accuracy of BMD.