AIM: To explore the factors associated with significant corneal astigmatism during the perioperative period in patients with pterygium. METHODS: Patients with primary pterygium presenting at Shanxi Eye Hospital between February and June 2025 were enrolled. All patients underwent medical history collection. Pre- and postoperative data were obtained using Pentacam, anterior segment photography, Image J software, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT). All patients underwent pterygium excision combined with autologous bulbar conjunctival flap transplantation under local infiltration anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients(76 eyes)with pterygium were finally enrolled(30 males, 46 females)with a mean age of 62.2±8.2 y. The mean length of corneal invasion by pterygium was 3.61±0.89 mm, the mean depth of invasion into the anterior corneal surface was 0.15±0.09 mm, and the median area of corneal invasion was 10.25(6.90, 18.75)mm2. The median preoperative corneal astigmatism was 1.50(0.70, 5.45)D. Median astigmatism was 0.8(0.40, 1.28)D at 2 wk postoperatively and 0.60(0.30, 1.15)D at 1 mo postoperatively. Patient age showed a positive correlation with preoperative astigmatism, and with residual astigmatism at 2 wk and 1 mo postoperatively(all P<0.05). The length of corneal invasion was positively correlated with preoperative astigmatism and residual astigmatism at both postoperative timepoints(P<0.01). The depth of invasion showed no significant linear correlation with astigmatism at any stage(P=0.250, 0.761, 0.686). The area of corneal invasion was positively correlated with astigmatism at all stages(P<0.01). Patients were grouped based on significant astigmatism(≥1.0 D)and non-significant astigmatism(<1.0 D), after adjusting for other variables, age(P=0.031)and the area of corneal invasion(P=0.004)were identified as risk factors for significant astigmatism. Pterygium invasion length was not significant factors(P>0.05). Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis showed the highest area under the curve(AUC)for the invasion area(AUC=0.915). CONCLUSION: Significant preoperative corneal astigmatism in pterygium patients is correlated with patient age, the length of corneal invasion, and the area of invasion. The area of pterygium invasion into the cornea is the strongest predictor of significant preoperative corneal astigmatism.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of sodium butyrate(NaBu)on preliminary follicle development of mice,using an in vitro 3D culture system.Preantral follicles were isolated from mouse ovaries(12.5 days post-birth)and cultured in vitro,NaBu was added for treatment during the culture process.Follicle morphology was observed and follicular diameter,survival rate,antral formation rate,oocyte maturation rate and early embryonic development were evaluated.The re-sults showed that an in vitro 3D culture system for preantral follicles of mice was successfully es-tablished.Matured follicles were cultured following an initial induction period of 8 days,after which M Ⅱ-stage oocytes were effectively expelled.During the process of follicle culture,the addition of varying doses(0.05-1.00 mmol/L)of NaBu from 0th day to 8 days had not showed any significant promotion in follicle development at any of the tested concentrations.NaBu at a dose of 0.10 mmol/L significantly increased antral formation rate(treated on 4th day for 2 days).In conclusion,short-term administration of appropriate doses of NaBu could significantly facilitate in vitro preantral follicle development and oocyte maturation by ensuring sustained developmental potential within follicles.This study may provide a theoretical basis for sodium butyrate to improve the reproduc-tive capacity of livestock and poultry in the breeding process.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of sodium butyrate(NaBu)on preliminary follicle development of mice,using an in vitro 3D culture system.Preantral follicles were isolated from mouse ovaries(12.5 days post-birth)and cultured in vitro,NaBu was added for treatment during the culture process.Follicle morphology was observed and follicular diameter,survival rate,antral formation rate,oocyte maturation rate and early embryonic development were evaluated.The re-sults showed that an in vitro 3D culture system for preantral follicles of mice was successfully es-tablished.Matured follicles were cultured following an initial induction period of 8 days,after which M Ⅱ-stage oocytes were effectively expelled.During the process of follicle culture,the addition of varying doses(0.05-1.00 mmol/L)of NaBu from 0th day to 8 days had not showed any significant promotion in follicle development at any of the tested concentrations.NaBu at a dose of 0.10 mmol/L significantly increased antral formation rate(treated on 4th day for 2 days).In conclusion,short-term administration of appropriate doses of NaBu could significantly facilitate in vitro preantral follicle development and oocyte maturation by ensuring sustained developmental potential within follicles.This study may provide a theoretical basis for sodium butyrate to improve the reproduc-tive capacity of livestock and poultry in the breeding process.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of applying deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) in low-radiation dose liver dual-energy CT to further improve image quality, diagnostic confidence of lesion, and accuracy of iodine concentration (IC) measurement.Methods:This prospective cohort study enrolled 60 patients scheduled for enhanced liver CT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2023 to January 2024. The participants were randomly assigned into the standard dose group and low radiation dose group with 30 cases in each using randomized block method. The standard radiation dose group underwent standard-radiation dose 120 kVp scans during the venous phase, while the low radiation dose group underwent low radiation dose scans with a rapid kVp-switching spectral scanning mode at 80 kVp and 140 kVp. The effective radiation dose (ED) was calculated for both groups. The standard radiation dose group was reconstructed using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) algorithm 40% (AR40 120 kVp). The low radiation dose group using high-intensity DLIR (DLIR-H) to reconstructed 40 keV and 50 keV virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) (DH-VMI 40 keV, DH-VMI 50 keV). The image quality of the above three groups was objectively evaluated through the measurement of image noise and calculation of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the liver and portal vein; and the image quality was subjectively scored for image noise, contrast, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence. In the low radiation dose group, DLIR-H and ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps were used to measure the liver and portal vein of IC values, standard deviations (SD), and coefficients of variation (CV). One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the differences of subjective and objective image quality among the three groups, and paired t-test was used to compare the differences in measurement indexes between DLIR-H and ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps. Results:The ED in the low radiation dose group [(2.2±0.5) mSv] was reduced by 56.8% compared to the conventional radiation dose group [(5.4±1.4) mSv]. Objective evaluations demonstrated that DH-VMI 40 keV had higher image noise, CNR, and SNR for liver and portal veins compared to AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.001). DH-VMI 50 keV had lower image noise ( P=0.200), with higher CNR and SNR for the liver and portal vein compared to AR40 120 kVp( P<0.001). In subjective evaluation, there was no statistically significant difference in image noise scores between DH-VMI 40 keV and AR40 120 kVp ( P>0.05), while the image noise score for DH-VMI 50 keV was lower than that of AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.05). Both DH-VMI 40 keV and DH-VMI 50 keV had higher scores for contrast, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence compared to those of AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.05). In the low radiation dose group, there was no statistically significant difference in IC values for the liver and portal vein between the ASIR-V40% and DLIR-H algorithm reconstructed iodine maps ( P>0.05). The SD and CV of liver and portal vein in the DLIR-H reconstructed iodine maps were lower than those in the ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps ( P<0.001). Conclusions:DLIR can effectively reduce the image noise of low-energy (40, 50 keV) VMI, enhance lesion conspicuity and diagnostic confidence, and improve measurement accuracy without affecting IC values.

Purpose To explore the application value of cardiac magnetic resonance(CMR)mapping and strain techniques in assessing ventricular function changes in patients with severe alcohol use disorder(AUD).Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 32 male patients with severe AUD as the study group in Hefei Fourth People's Hospital from January 2023 to April 2024,compared with 30 age-and gender-matched healthy subjects as the control group.Clinical data and CMR results were collected for all participants.CMR parameters included conventional functional parameters such as left and right ventricular ejection fraction,volume index and mass index;tissue characterization parameters such as Native T1,T2 mapping and extracellular volume fraction(ECV);and strain parameters including global longitudinal strain(GLS),global circumferential strain(GCS)and global radial strain(GRS)for both ventricles.The differences in the above indexes between the two groups were compared.Results The left ventricular end-diastolic volume index in the AUD group was significantly higher than in the control group(t=3.799,P<0.001).The left ventricular strain values(GLS,GCS,GRS)in the AUD group were significantly lower than those in the control group(t=4.459,4.435,-4.759,all P<0.001).The Native T1,T2 and ECV in the AUD group were significantly higher than those in the control group(t=6.301,5.650,7.069,all P<0.001).For the right ventricle,only right ventricular GLS and right ventricular GCS were significantly lower than in the control group(t=8.703,-2.814,both P<0.01).Conclusion CMR feature tracking technology can early identify ventricular function abnormalities in AUD patients.The increase in Native T1,T2 mapping and ECV suggests the presence of myocardial edema and fibrosis in AUD patients,which is closely related to left ventricular dysfunction.Multi-parameter CMR evaluation provides important diagnostic evidence for the early detection of cardiac involvement in severe AUD patients.

Purpose To explore the application value of cardiac magnetic resonance(CMR)mapping and strain techniques in assessing ventricular function changes in patients with severe alcohol use disorder(AUD).Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 32 male patients with severe AUD as the study group in Hefei Fourth People's Hospital from January 2023 to April 2024,compared with 30 age-and gender-matched healthy subjects as the control group.Clinical data and CMR results were collected for all participants.CMR parameters included conventional functional parameters such as left and right ventricular ejection fraction,volume index and mass index;tissue characterization parameters such as Native T1,T2 mapping and extracellular volume fraction(ECV);and strain parameters including global longitudinal strain(GLS),global circumferential strain(GCS)and global radial strain(GRS)for both ventricles.The differences in the above indexes between the two groups were compared.Results The left ventricular end-diastolic volume index in the AUD group was significantly higher than in the control group(t=3.799,P<0.001).The left ventricular strain values(GLS,GCS,GRS)in the AUD group were significantly lower than those in the control group(t=4.459,4.435,-4.759,all P<0.001).The Native T1,T2 and ECV in the AUD group were significantly higher than those in the control group(t=6.301,5.650,7.069,all P<0.001).For the right ventricle,only right ventricular GLS and right ventricular GCS were significantly lower than in the control group(t=8.703,-2.814,both P<0.01).Conclusion CMR feature tracking technology can early identify ventricular function abnormalities in AUD patients.The increase in Native T1,T2 mapping and ECV suggests the presence of myocardial edema and fibrosis in AUD patients,which is closely related to left ventricular dysfunction.Multi-parameter CMR evaluation provides important diagnostic evidence for the early detection of cardiac involvement in severe AUD patients.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of applying deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) in low-radiation dose liver dual-energy CT to further improve image quality, diagnostic confidence of lesion, and accuracy of iodine concentration (IC) measurement.Methods:This prospective cohort study enrolled 60 patients scheduled for enhanced liver CT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2023 to January 2024. The participants were randomly assigned into the standard dose group and low radiation dose group with 30 cases in each using randomized block method. The standard radiation dose group underwent standard-radiation dose 120 kVp scans during the venous phase, while the low radiation dose group underwent low radiation dose scans with a rapid kVp-switching spectral scanning mode at 80 kVp and 140 kVp. The effective radiation dose (ED) was calculated for both groups. The standard radiation dose group was reconstructed using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) algorithm 40% (AR40 120 kVp). The low radiation dose group using high-intensity DLIR (DLIR-H) to reconstructed 40 keV and 50 keV virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) (DH-VMI 40 keV, DH-VMI 50 keV). The image quality of the above three groups was objectively evaluated through the measurement of image noise and calculation of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the liver and portal vein; and the image quality was subjectively scored for image noise, contrast, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence. In the low radiation dose group, DLIR-H and ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps were used to measure the liver and portal vein of IC values, standard deviations (SD), and coefficients of variation (CV). One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the differences of subjective and objective image quality among the three groups, and paired t-test was used to compare the differences in measurement indexes between DLIR-H and ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps. Results:The ED in the low radiation dose group [(2.2±0.5) mSv] was reduced by 56.8% compared to the conventional radiation dose group [(5.4±1.4) mSv]. Objective evaluations demonstrated that DH-VMI 40 keV had higher image noise, CNR, and SNR for liver and portal veins compared to AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.001). DH-VMI 50 keV had lower image noise ( P=0.200), with higher CNR and SNR for the liver and portal vein compared to AR40 120 kVp( P<0.001). In subjective evaluation, there was no statistically significant difference in image noise scores between DH-VMI 40 keV and AR40 120 kVp ( P>0.05), while the image noise score for DH-VMI 50 keV was lower than that of AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.05). Both DH-VMI 40 keV and DH-VMI 50 keV had higher scores for contrast, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence compared to those of AR40 120 kVp ( P<0.05). In the low radiation dose group, there was no statistically significant difference in IC values for the liver and portal vein between the ASIR-V40% and DLIR-H algorithm reconstructed iodine maps ( P>0.05). The SD and CV of liver and portal vein in the DLIR-H reconstructed iodine maps were lower than those in the ASIR-V40% reconstructed iodine maps ( P<0.001). Conclusions:DLIR can effectively reduce the image noise of low-energy (40, 50 keV) VMI, enhance lesion conspicuity and diagnostic confidence, and improve measurement accuracy without affecting IC values.

In neurons and myocytes, selective ion channels in the plasma membrane play a pivotal role in transducing chemical or sensory stimuli into electrical signals, underpinning neural and cardiac functionality. Recent advancements in biomedical research have increasingly spotlighted the interaction between ion channels and electromagnetic fields, especially terahertz (THz) radiation. This review synthesizes current findings on the impact of THz radiation, known for its deep penetration and non-ionizing properties, on ion channel kinetics and membrane fluid dynamics. It is organized into three parts: the biophysical effects of THz exposure on cells, the specific modulation of ion channels by THz radiation, and the potential pathophysiological consequences of THz exposure. Understanding the biophysical mechanisms underlying these effects could lead to new therapeutic strategies for diseases.
Neurons/metabolism* ; Animals ; Ion Channels/radiation effects* ; Humans ; Terahertz Radiation ; Kinetics ; Cell Membrane/radiation effects*

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of coronary artery calcium score ( CACS) on virtual non-contrast scan ( VNC) images obtained from coronary artery CT angiography ( CCTA) scan with dual －layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) ． Methods : The data of 197 patients who underwent CCTA scan in hospital were analyzed retrospectively，and 88 patients with CACS ＞0 were further analyzed． Linear regression analysis of CACS and coronary artery calcium volume ( CACV) of true non-contrast (TNC) images and VNC images ( CACS-TNC， CACS-VNC，CACV-TNC，CACV-VNC) was performed to obtain linear regression equation and correction coefficients λ 1AVG and λ2AVG ．CACS-VNC and CACV-VNC were corrected by the corresponding regression equation and recorded as CCACS-VNC and CCACV-VNC，respectively．Spearman correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis and Bland-Altman plot was used for consistency test．Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference between the two groups. Results : For the total coronary artery，there was a strong correlation between CACS- TNC and CACS-VNC (rs = 0. 952，P ＜0. 001 ，λ 1AVG = 2. 19 ) ，CACV-TNC and CACV-VNC ( rs = 0. 954，P < 0. 001，λ2AVG = 1. 93) ．The results of Mann-Whitney U test showed that there was no significant difference between CACS-TNC and CCACS-VNC or between CACV-TNC and CCACV-VNC，and the Bland-Altman plot showed good consistency between CACS-TNC and CCACS-VNC ，CACV-TNC and CCACV-VNC． Conclusion VNC images based on SDCT can accurately measure CACS and be used for cardiovascular risk classification，which is expected to replace TNC scan and reduce the radiation dose of patients.

Objective:Rapid assessment of the outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is an important clinical issue. In this study, an electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis method based on dynamic learning was proposed.Methods:A total of 203 patients with ACS after successful PCI were enrolled for prospective analysis at the Emergency Department of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from April 2019 to December 2020. All patients were divided into group without ≥70% postoperative stenosis ( n=72) and group with ≥ 70% postoperative stenosis ( n=131) according to the presence of 70% or more stenosis after PCI. The clinical data of ACS patients were collected and analyzed by χ2 test, t-test, or Mann-Whitney test. ECGs were recorded before and 2 h after PCI, and were dynamically analyzed to generate cardiodynamicsgram (CDG) using dynamic learning. In the group without ≥ 70% postoperative stenosis, the model and CDG index for evaluating myocardial ischemia were obtained by training support vector machine (SVM) using 10 times 10-fold cross-validation. Results:There was no significant difference in clinical data between the two groups. The prediction accuracy and sensitivity of the support vector machine model for myocardial ischemia in group without≥70% postoperative stenosis were 73.61%, and 84.72% respectively. CDG transformed from disorderly to regular after PCI, and CDG index decreased significantly ( P<0.001): 90.28% (65) patients in group without≥70% postoperative stenosis, and 79.39% (104) patients in group with≥70% postoperative stenosis had lower CDG indexes than before PCI. Conclusions:In this study, CDG obtained by dynamic learning can intuitively and effectively evaluate the changes of myocardial ischemia before and after PCI, which is helpful to assist clinicians to formulate the next treatment plan.