Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of coronary artery calcium (CAC) detection, quantification and risk classification using ultra-low-dose chest CT (ULD-CT) combined with a calcium-aware algorithm.Methods:A total of 115 patients were prospectively enrolled from April to October 2022 at Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital, who underwent a standard calcium scoring CT (CACS-CT) scan followed by an additional ULD-CT scan. CACS-CT adopted a prospective ECG-triggered sequence scan with a tube voltage of 120 kVp, and the reconstruction algorithm with Qr36 (group CACS-CT Qr). ULD-CT adopted non-ECG-triggered high-pitch scan with a tube voltage of Sn 100 kVp, and the standard algorithm Qr36 (group ULD-CT Qr) and calcium-aware algorithm Sa36 (group ULD-CT Sa) were respectively used to reconstruct two groups of images. Taking the CAC detection of CACS-CT as a reference, the accuracy of ULD-CT for detecting CAC was calculated, and kappa was used to evaluate the agreement of CAC detection between scanning protocols. The agreement of CACS quantification between scanning protocols was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots, and the agreement of risk classification between scanning protocols was assessed using weighted kappa. Results:The CAC was found in 66.96% (77/115) of patients in CACS-CT Qr. Taking the CAC detection in CACS-CT Qr as a reference, the sensitivity of CAC detection in ULD-CT Qr and ULD-CT Sa was 96.1% and 97.4%, respectively, and the specificity was 94.73% (k= 0.902, 0.921). The CACS for ULD-CT Qr and ULD-CT Sa was lower than that for CACS-CT Qr (3.6, 6.2 vs. 8.5; P< 0.001), but strongly correlated with CACS for CACS-CT Qr ( r= 0.983, P< 0.001). The mean difference in CACS for ULD-CT Sa and CACS-CT Qr was smaller (12.33), and the agreement was better (ICC= 0.992). The agreement of risk classifications between ULD-CT Sa and CACS-CT Qr was relatively high (weighted k= 0.936), and the reclassification rate (6.08%) was relatively low. The effective radiation dose for ULD-CT was reduced by approximately 77.22% compared with that for CACS-CT. Conclusions:It is feasible to evaluate CACS using Non-ECG-triggered ULD-CT combined with a calcium-aware algorithm.

Objective: To explore hematological and genotypic characteristics of patients with hemoglobin E (Hb E) disorders from Yunnan Province. Methods: One hundred individuals with Hb E disorders indicated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were subjected to genetic testing through multiple gap-PCR and reverse dot-blotting analysis. Results: All patients were found to harbor a mutation to the 26th codon of the β-globin chain (HBB: c. 79G>A). Ninety patients were heterozygotes, and 10 co-inherited c. 79G>A and an α-thalassemia mutation (7 αα/-α^3.7, 2 αα/--^SEA and 1 -α^3.7/-α^3.7). Hematological characteristics of the heterozygotes were: Hb A2 (26.02±3.64)%, Hb F(1.35±1.25)%, MCV(78.83±4.68) fl, MCH(26±1.54) pg, MCHC (329.65±10.73) g/L, HGB (141.08±16.53) g/L, while that of the co-inherited cases was decided by the type of α-thalassemia mutation. Conclusion Hb E can be effectively detected by HPLC. The type of α-thalassemia mutations will determine hematological features of co-inherited cases. Hb E disorders may be missed by relying only on routine blood test upon prenatal screening.

Objective:To analyze the data of clinical characteristics, hospitalization actual cost and hospital stay of inpatients with lymphoma, and to provide references for local epidemiological research, hospital optimization management, and appropriate resource allocation.Methods:The quadratic programming was performed based on hospital information management system and case system, as well as the information from inpatients with lymphoma in Shandong Tai'an Central Hospital between January 1, 2004 and November 30, 2019, and then they were derived and collected into the SQL server database. The gender, onset age, age distribution, and hospital stay of all inpatients with lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the young group (< 45 years old), middle-aged group (≥45 years old and < 60 years old) and elderly group (≥ 60 years old) according to the age. The hospitalization cost and hospital stay of these inpatients in different age groups were collected and compared.Results:The number of admissions for inpatients with lymphoma between January 1, 2004 and November 30, 2019 was 3 866, accounting for 0.38% (3 866/1 011 627) of the total inpatient admissions. There were 817 newly-diagnosed lymphoma inpatients, including 499 males and 318 females (male to female ratio was 1.57:1). The median onset age of the newly-diagnosed lymphoma inpatients was 58 years old (7 months to 86 years old). Among the newly-diagnosed lymphoma patients, the proportion of them with age ≥ 45 years old was increased, and peaked at 60-65 years old, and decreased after 75 years old. There were 180, 270 and 367 cases in the young group, middle-aged group and elderly group respectively; the median hospital stay was 13.5 d, 13.0 d and 14.0 d, respectively (χ 2 = 0.419, P = 0.811). The median total cost of hospitalization was 9 846.39 yuan, 12 232.16 yuan and 14 022.36 yuan, respectively (χ 2 = 9.443, P = 0.009); and the median drug cost was 3 423.37 yuan, 3 523.62 yuan and 3 654.54 yuan, respectively (χ 2 = 2.202, P = 0.333); the ratio of median drug cost to the total cost was 44.80%, 40.49% and 34.58%, respectively (χ 2 = 6.512, P = 0.039). Conclusions:The number of lymphoma inpatients in Shandong Tai'an Central Hospital is on the rise. The incidence of inpatients with lymphoma is increased annually with older onset age. The total cost of inpatients was increased with the aging, but it has no obvious relevance with hospital stay. Middle-aged and elderly people are the target populations for disease control and prevention. Measures including screening, early diagnosis and early treatment should be enhanced.

A novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus recently emerged in the Yangtze River delta and caused diseases, often severe, in over 130 people. This H7N9 virus appeared to infect humans with greater ease than previous avian inlfuenza virus subtypes such as H5N1 and H9N2. While there are other potential explanations for this large number of human infections with an avian influenza virus, we investigated whether a lack of conserved T-cell epitopes between endemic H1N1 and H3N2 inlfuenza viruses and the novel H7N9 virus contributes to this observation. Here we demonstrate that a number of T cell epitopes are conserved between endemic H1N1 and H3N2 viruses and H7N9 virus. Most of these conserved epitopes are from viral internal proteins. The extent of conservation between endemic human seasonal inlfuenza and avian inlfuenza H7N9 was comparable to that with the highly pathogenic avian inlfuenza H5N1. Thus, the ease of inter-species transmission of H7N9 viruses (compared with avian H5N1 viruses) cannot be attributed to the lack of conservation of such T cell epitopes. On the contrary, our ifndings predict signiifcant T-cell based cross-reactions in the human population to the novel H7N9 virus. Our findings also have implications for H7N9 virus vaccine design.

Objective To investigate changes of the interhemispheric coordination integrity in patients with hemi-parkinsonism using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI) homotopy technique called voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC).Methods Sixteen Parkinson disease(PD) patients with right body side motor symptom onset(RPD),15 patients with left side onset(LPD),and 19 age-,gender-,and education-matched healthy controls(HC) were included in this study.rs-fMRI scanning and pre-processed the raw data were performed.Then by using analysis of variance(ANOVA) and two sample t tset,we performed VMHC analyses on rs-fMRI data of these participants(P＜0.05,corrected with AlphaSim,clusters≥16 voxels).Exploratory linear correlations analyses were performed between the VMHC of regions showing significant group differences and the clinical features of LPD or RPD patients.Results Compared with HCs,patients with LPD had significantly reduced VMHC in visual regions,sensorimotor regions,and the cerebellar cortex(voxels size of 17-77,t=-5.06--3.42,P＜0.05).Patients with RPD exhibited decreased VMHC in the prefrontal cortex and sensorimotor regions.Both LPD and RPD groups had increased VMHC in subcortical regions.When compared with the RPD group,the LPD group displayed decreased VMHC in the visual regions,sensorimotor regions(voxels=16 and 18; t=-3.68and-3.87,respectively,both P＜0.05) and increased VMHC in the supramarginal gyrus(voxels=4,t=4.72,P＜0.05);ROI-based correlation analyses indicated that the VMHC in the inferior occipital gyrus and the postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with the BDI-Ⅱ scores in the LPD group(r=-0.58 and-0.59,respectively; both P＜0.05),and positively correlated with the MMSE scores(r=0.56 and 0.52,respectively;both P＜0.05).In the RPD group,a positive correlation was found for the VMHC in the supramarginal gyrus and the illness duration(r=0.56,P＜0.05) and for the VMHC in the postcentral gyrus and the(mini-mental state exam) MMSE(r=0.53,P＜0.05).Conclusions The differential pattern of deficits in the interhemispheric coordination integrity in hemi-parkinsonism reflected by VMHC may provide insights into the neurological pathophysiology underlying the asymmetry of symptom appearance in PD.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of class Ⅲ β-tubulin protein expression in tumor tissue for the efficacy of taxol combined chemotherapy in stage Ⅲ s/Ⅳ gastric carcinoma patients.Methods Tumor biopsy samples were obtained and class Ⅲ β-tubulin protein expression were examined by immunohistochemical staining before chemotherapy.According to different expression of class Ⅲ β-tubulin,the patients were divided into two groups,group A(low expression of class Ⅲ β-tubulin),group B(high expression of class Ⅲ β-tubulin).The patients were assigned to be received 4 to 6 cycles of Taxol and S-1 chemotherapy regimens and followed up until death or lost.Response rate(RR),overall survival(OS)and time to tumor progression(TTP)were assessed.Results There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics among patients with different expression rate.The RR was higher and TIP was longer in group A than in group B(53.3 ％ vs 36.7 ％,198 days vs 146 days,P ＜ 0.05 respectively),and no significant differences of OS in two groups(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The expression level of class Ⅲ β-tubulin in tumor tissue is probably a predictor for the efficacy of taxol in gastric cancer patients,taxol combined chemotherapy is more suitable for patients with lower expression of class Ⅲ β-tubulin.

Objective To explore the incidence and associated factors of aortic artery calcification (AAC) by lateral lumbar X-ray score in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Mehtods A total of 155 MHD patients with complete clinical data in our hospital were enrolled in the study.Lateral lumbar X-ray score of the abdominal aorta was used to determine AAC in MHD patients.Results Aortic calcification was most severe in front of the fourth lumbar segment and ameliorated in higher lumbar levels.63.63％ of MHD patients presented visible calcification in the abdominal aorta,and 28.39％ had severe calcification with more than three segments.Age (OR=1.094,P＜0.01),dialysis vintage (OR=1.013,P=0.022),triglyceride (OR=1.261,P=0.030) and phosphate level (OR=1.324,P=0.023) were risk factors of abdominal aorta calcification,however serum albumin level (OR =0.239,P=0.013) was protect factor of aortic calcification.Conclusions Incidence of AAC is quite high in MHD patients and associated with increasing of age,duration of hemodialysis,serum triglyceride,phosphate level and plasma albumin.The semi-quantitative X-ray method of determining vascular calcification is less expensive and may be widely available clinically.

ObjectiveTo study the metastructure volumes of medial temporal lobe in diagnosis the patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) using 3 dimensional MRI.Methods23 AD patients according to DSM-Ⅳ criteria and 23 normal controls (NC) were examined with 3D-MRI.Hippocampus formation,amygdala,entorhinal cortex ( EC ),perirhinal cortex ( PC),and comu temporale were measured with 3D-MRI.ResultsSensitivity and specificity of diagnosis AD were 73.9％,97％ ( Hippocampus formation) ;39.1％,95.7％ (amygdala) ;73.9％,95.7％ (EC) ;95.7％,87.0％ (PC) and 34.8％,39.1％ ( cornu temporale).Overall discriminate function =cornu temporal × 3.887 + PC × 5.960 - EC × 0.074 + amygdale × 3.489 + hippocampus formation × 6.656- 22.449.Over-all-accuracy was 91.3％.ConclusionThe total volume of PC can better diagnosis the mild to moderate AD than other structure of medial temporal lobe.The changes of the medial temporal lobe volume could be used in diagnosis the patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Objective To assess the volumetric variation of liver and spleen in early diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.Methods One hundred and thirty-seven subjects underwent dynamic enhanced examination of liver and spleen using multi-slice CT(MSCT).Forty potential living liver donors were served as controls.Sixty-three histologically proved fibrotic patients were divided into slight liver fibrosis(F≤2,n=44)and advanced liver fibrosis(F≥3,n=19)according to the Ishak system.Liver cirrhosis group consisted of 34 patients diagnosed clinically and radiologically.The measurement of total liver volume(TLV),right liver lobe volume(RV),left lateral liver segment volume(LLV),left medial liver segment volume(LMV),eaudate lobe volume(CV)and spleen volume(SV)were obtained bv MSCT.The ratios of segmental liver and SV to TLV were also calculated.Results The values of liver volumes(TLV,RV and LMV)reduced gradually among control(1470.38 cm3,933.34 cm3,216.20 cm3,respectively),slight liver fibrosis(1239.99 cm3,799.74 cm3,184.69 cm3,respectively),advanced liver fibrosis(1219.76 cm3,765.22 cm3,179.44 cm3,respectively)and cirrhosis(1078.21 cm3,543.73 cm3,163.12 cm3,respectively) groups.The volume of SV and the ratios of CV/TLV and SV/TLV increased gradually among control (256.29 cm3,3.09%,17.53%),slight liver fibrosis(284.41 cm3,3.20%,22.91%),advanced liver fibrosis(343.13 cm3,3.58%,28.80%)and cirrhosis(863.38 cm3,4.16%,82.91%)groups.There was significant difference among control,liver fibrosis and cirrhosis group in TLV,RV,LMV and SV/TLV(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in all parameters between the slight liver fibrosis group and the advanced liver fibrosis group(P＞0.05).There was significant correlation of TLV,LMV,SV,RV,CV/TLV,SV/TLV,RV/TLV and LLV/TLV with liver cirrhosis and its staging.Conclusion Variations in liver and spleen volume,the ratios of segmental liver and SV/TLV are correlated with the extent of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.which will be helpful in early detection of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Objective To compare 1HMRS and DTI findings of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients and normal elderly controls. Methods Fifteen mild AD patients, 20 moderate to severe AD patients and 20 aging controlled normal subjects (CN) were recruited. MRS imaging and DTI were performed on a 1.5 T MRI scanner. A ROI was positioned in the posterior part of the cingulate. MRS data were processed and the metabolite ratios were estimated, including the ratios of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr. Comparing with the axial MRS location, we chose the same level to posit the ROIs on both sides of the posterior cingulated fibers on fractional anisotropy map (FA) and mean diffusivity map (MD). Mean spectroscopy data and DTI values for each groups were analysed with Mann-Whitney U non parametric test. Correlations between MRS and DTI values for AD groups were estimated using partial correlations test controlling for the age related bias. Results Compared to normal aging groups, mild AD group showed a significantly lower FA value in the left side of posterior cingulum bundle (0. 549±0. 056 vs 0. 517±0. 058,Z =2. 014,P <0. 05). Whereas, moderate to severe group versus mild AD group revealed significantly elevated MI) value and a decrease in FA value in the right side of posterior cingulate ( FA 0. 517 ± 0. 059 vs 0. 432 ± 0. 073, Z = 3. 216, P < 0. 01 ; MD (0.726±0.041) × 10-3 mm2/s vs (0.761±0.057) × 10-3 mm2/s,Z = 1.970,P <0.05) . Obvious increasing mI/Cr ratio was found in mild AD group ( 0. 61 ± 0. 07 vs 0. 68 ± 0. 12, Z = 2. 911, P < 0. 01 ). NAA/Cr ratio showed gradually decrease in AD groups. Partial correlations analysis revealed a positive correlation between ml/Cr ratio and left posterior cingulated FA value in mild AD group ( r = 0. 586, P < 0. 05) and negative correlation between NAA/Cr and MD value in the right side of posterior cingulated region ( r = - 0. 505, P < 0. 05 ). Conclusions These findings suggested that there were different regional and temporal pattern in different course of AD disease, resulting from axonal loss or gliosis. Combining MRS with DTI alternations could be a better potential indicator and could better explain the pathological changes in AD progression.