Objective:To investigate the consistency of myocardial extracellular volume between systole and diastole using dual-layer detector spectral CT.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-five patients who underwent cardiac spectral CT examination in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from April 2022 to December 2022 were retrospectively collected. Hematocrit was collected within 3 days before the CT scan. The delayed phases holographic spectral images in systole (45%) and diastole (75%) were obtained using dual-layer spectral CT. CT data were processed using a spectral post-processing workstation, and the extracellular volume (ECV) based on iodine density images, referred as CT-ECV, in systolic and diastolic phases were calculated, respectively. According to the American Heart Association′s 16-segment model of left ventricular, the standard short-axis images were constructed, and the myocardium was standardized into 16 segments at the basal, mid-cavity, and apical levels of the left ventricle. Two radiologists performed a subjective evaluation in the image quality of the CT-ECV images of the whole heart and the three sections in systole and diastole using a "five-point" scale. The ECV of the 16 segments and the whole heart in systole and diastole was calculated. The consistency of subjective evaluations between systole and diastole was assessed using Kappa statistics. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the differences in scores between systole and diastole. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the differences in CT-ECV scores between systole and diastole. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to test the intra-and inter-observer consistency of CT-ECV measurements between two radiologists. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results:There was good agreement between the two radiologists on subjective scores of CT-ECV image quality between systole and diastole ( Kappa>0.80), and there was no statistical difference in image quality among the basal, mid-cavity, and apical levels of the left ventricle and whole heart between systole and diastole ( P>0.05). The systolic and diastolic CT-ECV for the entire heart obtained through the delay phase were (33.29±3.46)% and (33.50±3.39)%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( t=-0.78, P=0.442). CT-ECV in systole and diastole were (34.15±3.94)% and (35.30±3.99)% for segment 8, (34.03±3.76)% and (35.46±3.74)% for segment 9, and (33.98±3.32)% and (35.05±3.98)% for segment 14, respectively. The mean values of the systolic CT-ECV of segments 8, 9 and 14 were significantly lower than those of diastolic CT-ECV ( t=-2.65, -3.26, -2.42, P=0.012, 0.003, 0.022, respectively). The ICCs for CT-ECV measurements of 16 segments by the two radiologists were greater than 0.90 in both systolic and diastolic, indicating good agreement. Conclusions:There is no significant difference in whole heart CT-ECV values between systolic and diastolic myocardial ECV based on dual-layer spectral CT. However, minor differences (less than 2%) are found between systolic and diastolic myocardial CT-ECV for some segments. Myocardial CT-ECV measurement should be performed on the same segment during the same phase to obtain stable and accurate ECV values.

Objective To explore the feasibility of second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT ab-dominal virtual non-contrast(VNC) for diagnosing fatty liver.Methods The imaging data of 128 patients with second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT abdominal enhanced CT in West China Hospital of Si-chuan University from June 2022 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The CT values of the left lobe,right anterior lobe,right posterior lobe and spleen of all patients were measured on TNC,arterial stage VNC (A-VNC) and venous stage VNC (V-VNC) images.The difference value (L-S) and ratio value (L/S) between the CT value of liver and CT value of spleen were calculated.According to the threshold value of TNC image diagnosis of fatty liver in previous studies,the included cases were divided into two groups:fatty liver group and non-fatty liver group.The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference of quanti-tative parameters between the fatty liver group and non-fatty liver group.The efficiency of VNC in the diagno-sis of fatty liver was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,and the difference be-tween ROC curves was compared with DeLong's test.The intra-group and inter-group correlation coefficient (ICC) values were used to evaluate the consistency of data measurement.Results The ICC values of intra-group and inter-group consistency of data ranged (0.835-0.986) and (0.810-0.978),respectively (P<0.05).The mean value of left lobe,right anterior lobe,right posterior lobe and triple lobe of liver and CT val-ue of spleen in A-VNC and V-VNC images were lower than those of TNC images,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The CT values of TNC,A-VNC,V-VNC,(L-S) values and (L/S) values of the non-fatty liver group were higher than those of the fatty liver group,and the differences were statistical-ly significant (P<0.05).The CT value,(L-S) value and (L/S) value of TNC,A-VNC and V-VNC images in the non-fatty liver group were higher than those in the fatty liver group,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The area under the curve (AUC) of CT values of A-VNC and V-VNC for the diagnosis of fatty liver all were 0.997,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver had no statistical difference (Z=0.407,P=0.684).AUC of A-VNC (L-S) and V-VNC (L-S) in the diagnosis of fatty liver was 1.000 and 0.981,respectively,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver had no statistical difference (Z=1.790,P=0.074).AUC of A-VNC (L/S) and V-VNC (L/S) in the diagnosis of fatty liver was 0.992 and 0.987,respec-tively,and their efficiencies for diagnosing fatty liver also had no statistical difference (Z=0.665,P=0.506). Conclusion The CT values of liver and spleen in VNC images reconstructed by second-generation dual-layer detector spectral CT are lower than TNC,but it is still feasible to diagnose fatty liver based on VNC images.

Objective:To explore the effect of different blood sodium levels on the condition and prognosis of patients with severe craniocerebral injury.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 150 cases of severe craniocerebral injury admitted to Zhangye People′s Hospital Affiliated to Hexi University from January 2020 to October 2022. According to the five blood sodium values measured on the first day after admission and during the peak period of brain edema (2-4 days after injury) and 7 days after injury, 102 cases of blood sodium metabolic disorder, 43 cases of low sodium group: average blood sodium value<135 mmol/L, 59 cases of high sodium group: average blood sodium value>145 mmol/L. The characteristics of sodium ion metabolism imbalance and the relationship between serum sodium level and Glasgow coma score (GCS), Glasgow prognosis score (GOS) and APACHE Ⅱ score at 2 weeks after injury were analyzed. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and comparison between groups was conducted using the t-test. count data were expressed as cases or percentages(%), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Chi-square test. Results:The imbalance rate of sodium metabolism in the acute phase after injury was 68.00%(102/150), including 57.84%(59/102) of hypernatremia and 42.16%(43/102) of hyponatremia. The imbalance rate of sodium metabolism at 7 days after injury was significantly higher than that immediately after injury. Hypernatremia occurred earlier than hyponatremia and lasted longer than hyponatremia ( P<0.05). There was no correlation between the low sodium group and the scores of GCS ( R=0.523), GOS ( R=0.367), APACHE Ⅱ ( R=-0.453) ( P>0.05), but the scores of GCS ( R=-0.448) and GOS ( R=-0.486) were negatively correlated with the blood sodium level of the high sodium group ( P<0.05), and the high sodium group was positively correlated with the scores of APACHE Ⅱ ( R=0.477, P<0.05). Conclusions:Patients with severe craniocerebral injury are often accompanied by blood sodium disorder. Hyponatremia can be corrected in a short time and has no effect on the patient′s condition and prognosis. However, hypernatremia seriously affects the recovery of consciousness, prognosis and quality of life of the injured.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety of esketamine nasal spray add-on therapy for treatment-resistant depression by meta analysis. METHODS Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of esketamine nasal spray+oral antidepressants were searched and meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS Five RCTs and 1 019 patients were included in the study. Compared with contrast group, treatment group had more adverse reacions, such as dissociation(RR=6.35, 95%CI, 2.84-14.23, P<0.000 01); sedation(RR=5.47, 95%CI, 2.05-14.57, P=0.000 7); somnolence(RR=2.66, 95%CI, 1.30-5.44, P=0.007); headache(RR=1.38, 95%CI, 1.05-1.83, P=0.02); vertigo(RR=5.87, 95%CI, 3.30-69.79, P<0.000 01; diziness(RR=2.98, 95%CI, 1.33-6.68, P=0.008); hypoesthesia(RR=10.25, 95%CI, 3.65-28.83, P<0.000 1); anxiety(RR=2.01, 95%CI, 1.20-3.37, P=0.008); paresthesia(RR=6.62, 95%CI, 2.75-15.98, P<0.000 1); nausea(RR=4.05, 95%CI, 2.71-6.05, P<0.000 01); dysguesia(RR=1.81, 95%CI, 1.35-2.42, P<0.000 1). At the same time, compared with contrast group, in esketamine nasal spray 28 mg subgroup, it had no significant difference in adverse effects; while in 56, 84 mg subgroup, there was significant difference besides of somnolence, headache, dysguesia. CONCLUSION It is showed that the appearance of adverse events has increased, but it is very light in esketamine nasal spray add-on therapy for treatment-resistant depression.

Objective:To access the efficacy of monoenergetic imaging from spectral CT combined with metal artifact reduction for orthopedic implants (O-MAR) on reducing contrast hardening artifacts in the vein on the injection side, and determining the optimal monoenergetic spectral range to improve the display of axillary lymph node.Methods:A total of 35 patients with breast cancer who underwent chest-enhanced CT scans were enrolled in this retrospective study. The original data were reconstructed to obtain a total of 35 sets of images, including one conventional image, 17 groups of monoenergetic images, and 17 groups of monoenergetic+O-MAR images. The areas of interest were delineated in the high and low-density artifact area on the injection side of the same layer contrast agent, and the contralateral ectopectoralis. The CT value and its standard deviation (SD) were recorded respectively, the artifact area was measured, and the number of axillary lymph nodes was recorded. The difference in CT values (ΔCT 1, ΔCT 2) and the artifact index (AI1 and AI 2) of the high and low-density artifact areas relative to the contralateral ectopectoralis in the same layer were calculated respectively. Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the differences of ΔCT, AI, artifact area, and number of lymph nodes among the three imaging modalities, and the Kappa test was used to compare the differences in subjective evaluation. Results:As the energy level increased, compared to the conventional image, monoenergetic image, ΔCT 1 absolute value, ΔCT 2 absolute value, AI 1, and AI 2 showed a trend of initially low and then high, artifact area decreased, and the number of detected lymph nodes increased ( P<0.01). Compared to other energy levels, when the monoenergetic image was 100 keV, ΔCT 1 value, 140 keV for ΔCT 2 value, 120 keV for AI 1 value, and 130 keV for AI 2 value were close to zero, and the number of detected lymph nodes was highest at 110-200 keV. In contrast, in the monoenergetic+O-MAR images, ΔCT 1 absolute value showed a trend of initially low and then high, but, ΔCT 2 absolute value, AI 1, AI 2, and artifact area all significantly decreased, whereas the number of detected lymph nodes significantly increased (χ 2 values were 916.23, 895.93, 387.08, 519.41, 890.10, and 1027.98, respectively. All P<0.01). Compared to other energy levels, when the monoenergetic+O-MAR image was at 100 keV, ΔCT 1 value was close to zero, while ΔCT 2 value became close to zero with increasing energy level, and the number of detected lymph nodes was highest at 110-200 keV. As the energy level increased, the ΔCT 1, AI 1, AI 2, and artifact area of monoenergetic+O-MAR images were significantly smaller than those of monoenergetic images at the same energy level, and the number of detected lymph nodes was significantly higher than that of monoenergetic images ( P<0.01). The subjective scores for 110-200 keV monoenergetic images and 100-200 keV monoenergetic+O-MAR images were both higher than 4, and the score for monoenergetic+O-MAR images was significantly higher than that of single-energy spectrum images. The agreement between the two radiologists in assessing subjective scores was good. Conclusion:At 100-120 keV level, spectral CT monoenergetic combined with O-MAR imaging technique has the best performance in removing hardening-induced artifacts of chest-enhanced CT contrast agent and detecting and displaying axillary lymph nodes.

Objective:To describe the baseline characteristics of the subjects enrolled in the China Quantitative CT (QCT) big data program in 2018—2019.Methods:Based on baseline data from the Chinese health big data project from January 2018 to December 2019 from the eligible enrolled population, measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were performed using Mindways′ QCT Pro Model 4 system. The baseline data of age, gender, regional distribution, height, weight, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, blood routine and blood biochemical tests were analyzed. And the single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to check the age related trend of BMD and VAT in both genders.Results:After screening the inclusion exclusion criteria and outliers of the main indicators, 86 113 people were enrolled in the project. The enrollment rate was 92.47%, including 35 431 (41.1%) women and 50 682 (58.9%) men, and the ratio of men to women was 1.43. The mean age was (50.3±12.7) years in all the subjects, and it was (50.2±12.8) years and (50.4±12.5) years in men and women, respectively, and there was no statistical difference between the two genders ( P>0.05). Total of 43 833 people were enrolled in east China, it was the largest group by region (50.90%), it was followed by central China (16 434 people, 19.08%), and the number of people enrolled in Northeast China was the lowest (2 914 people, 3.38%). The rate of completing of health information indicators related to the main outcome of the study were all above 70%, and there were significant differences between men and women (all P<0.05). The mean BMD was (139.33±46.76) mg/cm 3 in women, (135.90±36.48) mg/cm 3 in men, which showed a decreasing trend with age in both gender (both P<0.001); the mean intra-abdominal fat area was (116.39±56.23) cm 2 in women, (191.67±77.07) cm 2 in men, and there was an increasing trend with age in both men and women (both P<0.001). Conclusions:There are gender differences in BMD and VAT measured by QCT with different age tendency, and there are gender differences in health information index. Regional factors should also be taken into account for regional differences in the inclusion of data.

Objective:To investigate the normal reference values of spinal bone mineral density measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and the differences of bone mineral density (BMD) in different regions of in Chinese adult males.Methods:Men who underwent low-dose CT lung scan for cancer screening in regions of Northeast, North, East, South, Central and Southwest of China from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected. And the lumbar vertebrae BMD values in the male subjects were measured by the QCT system (Mindways Software, Inc.). The mean BMD values and their decline rates were calculated at an age interval of 10 years, and the prevalence of osteoporosis was calculated according to the American College of Radiology spine QCT osteoporosis diagnostic criteria.Results:A total of 50 682 males with a mean age of (50.22±12.79) years (ranged 20 to 98 years) were included in this study. The peak BMD of (173.11±28.56) mg/cm 3 in the healthy Chinese adult male population appeared in the age group of 20 to 29 years and then declined with age. Before the age of 70 years, the BMD was relatively higher in males in South China, and it was lower in Central China and Southwest China, and it was intermediate in Northeast, North and East of China, with statistically significant differences. There was no significant differences in BMD in the males in the two age groups of 70 to 79 years and 80 and older among the regions in China. The overall decline rate of spinal BMD in Chinese males under QCT was about 46.92% over the lifetime, and it declined obviouslyin the 40-49 age group. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis in Chinese male population aged 50 years and above was approximately 11.42%, with the highest prevalence in Southwest China and Central China (14.72% and 13.87%, respectively) and the lowest in North China and South China (8.53% and 7.71%, respectively). Conclusions:A reference of lumbar spine BMD values for healthy males in China based on QCT is established. BMD values were highest in South China and Lowest in Central China.

Objective To analyze the relationship between trigeminal neuralgia and various nerve compression sites. Methods Forty patients with trigeminal neuralgia were enrolled in this study. The upper and lower jaw patients were treated as observation group (20 cases), and eye branch or one branch pain patients were as the control group (20 cases). Two groups of patients were treated with microvascular decompression, position of responsible vascular of the two groups of patients was analyzed and explored. Results Compared with the control group, the patients in the observation group had more blood vessels, and the oppression rate of the trigeminal tract was higher than that of the control group:80%(16/20) vs. 30% (6/20) (P<0.05). Conclusions The relationship between trigeminal neuralgia with different facial position and the location of nerve compression is different.

Objective:To investigate the value of combined serum thymidine kinase 1(S-TK1)and thyroglobulin(Tg)detection in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Methods:S-TK1 and Tg levels were retrospectively detected with an en-hanced chemiluminescence dot blot assay and chemiluminescence immunoassay in 81 cases of malignant thyroid nodules,62 cases of benign thyroid nodules,and 40 cases of normal controls in the Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences&Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital,between October 2015 and September 2017.To compare the S-TK1 and Tg levels in each group,and to evaluate the clinical value of detecting S-TK1 and Tg,in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules,Logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) were performed. Results: The S-TK1 and Tg levels in patients with malignant thyroid nodules [(5.33±3.38)pmol/L,(61.86±24.80)ng/mL]were significantly higher than in those with benign nodules[(1.40±0.99)pmol/L,(45.13± 15.80)ng/mL]and in normal controls[(1.35±0.41)pmol/L,(40.88±15.45)ng/mL](P<0.05).The ROC of S-TK1,Tg,and P of the regres-sion equation showed that the S-TK1 and Tg cut-off values were 2.320 pmol/L and 63.40 ng/mL,respectively.The area under the curve (AUC),sensitivity,and total effective rate of S-TK1 were significantly higher than those of Tg(P<0.05).The cut-off value of P was 0.372, and the AUC,sensitivity,and total effective rate were significantly higher than those of S-TK1 and Tg(P<0.05).Conclusions:S-TK1 was indicative than Tg in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.The combined detection of S-TK1 and Tg can significantly improve the sensitivity and total effective rate of diagnosis,and as such,the combined detection of both parameters can assist the differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND:Breast cancer stem cells not only lead to theoccurrence of breast cancer, but also may cause breast cancer metastasis and recurrence. The relationship between stem cells and cell resistance is also gaining increasing attentions, and the focus on the stem cell treatment may result in unexpected results.OBJECTIVE:To explore the reversal effect of psoralen on glutathione-S-transferase π (GST-π) in human breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells and its mechanism.METHODS:MCF-7/ADR cells were cultured and enriched in serum-free medium to obtain breast cancer stem cells.RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of GST-π at the levels of gene and protein in the MCF-7/ADR cells after treatment with 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 mg/L psoralen. To observe the activation of nuclear factor-κB,western blot was used. The expression of GST-π was detected by RT-PCR in 18 μmol/L SN50 group and 8 mg/L psoralen group. Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect the effect of doxorubicin on cell proliferation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, psoralen reduced the expression of GST-π at the mRNA and protein levels, and significantly inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB. It was suggested that psoralen could reverse the multidrug resistance of human breast cancer MCF-7/ADR stem cells by decreasing the expression level of GST-π. The mechanism may be achieved by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB signal pathway.