Objective:To establish and validate a clinical and CT radiomics combined model for predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) risk in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA).Methods:This was a case-control study. Data from 158 pathologically confirmed HCCA patients between January 2016 and January 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. Using stratified random sampling, the patients were randomly divided into a training set ( n=95) and an internal validation set ( n=63) at a 6∶4 ratio. According to postoperative pathology, 31 LNM-positive cases and 64 LNM-negative cases were in the training set, and 22 LNM-positive cases and 41 LNM-negative cases were in the internal validation set. A cohort of 50 HCCA patients was retrospectively collected from West China Hospital of Sichuan University between October 2018 and June 2021 as an external validation set, including 21 LNM-positive and 29 LNM-negative cases. Clinical features were selected by multivariate logistic regression analysis to establish a clinical model. Radiomics features were extracted from portal venous phase CT images using 3D Slicer software. A radiomics model was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression algorithm. A clinical-radiomics model was constructed by integrating clinical features and Radscore, and a nomogram was developed. The prediction performance of models was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The AUC values were compared using the DeLong test. Calibration curves and decision curves were plotted to assess calibration and clinical net benefit. Results:Clinical N (cN) staging was an independent risk factor for LNM ( OR=6.86, 95% CI 2.70-18.49, P<0.001). Totally 12 optimal features were selected to construct the radiomics model, and the clinical-radiomics nomogram model was constructed by combining cN staging and Radscore. In the external validation set, the AUC (95% CI) of the clinical model, radiomics model, and clinical-radiomics nomogram were 0.706 (0.576-0.836), 0.768 (0.637-0.899), and 0.803 (0.680-0.926), respectively. The nomogram achieved higher AUC than clinical and radiomics models with statistical significance ( Z=2.01, 2.21; P=0.044, 0.027). The calibration and decision curves demonstrated good model fit, providing clinical net benefits for patients. Conclusion:The clinical-radiomics nomogram model combining cN staging and CT radiomics features can effectively predict LNM risk in HCCA patients.

Objective To preliminarily investigate the anti-tumor effects of phytosphingosine(PHS)and the involvement of inducing apoptosis of leukemia cells.Methods Cellular model of leukemia was established in leukemia cell lines K562 and SUP-B15.CCK-8 assay and EdU assay were used to measure the viability and DNA synthesis of K562 and SUP-B15 cells.RNA-seq was carried out to verify the differentially expressed genes(DEGs)after PHS treatment.Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses were applied to analyze the involved functions and signaling pathways.Comparative Toxicogenomics Database(CTD)and Discovery Studio software were employed to predict the underlying targets of PHS and molecular docking.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by JC-1 probe,and protein expression of key molecules was validated by Western blotting.Results PHS inhibited the proliferation of K562 and SUP-B15 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner.The half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of K562 cells was 17.67 and 12.52 pmol/L for 24 and 48 h,respectively,and the IC50 value of SUP-B15 cells was 17.58 and 14.86 μmol/L for 24 and 48 h,respectively.PHS treatment at a dose of 20 μmol/L for 48 h resulted in significant inhibition of DNA synthesis.GO enrichment analysis of the K562 cells showed that PHS might be involved in positive regulation of apoptotic process,plasma membrane and its integral components,and protein kinase binding and activity.Reverse predictive analysis showed that BCL-2 protein was the most likely target of PHS.PHS significantly increased the apoptotic rate of leukemia cells(P＜0.05)in a dose-dependent manner,reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential,and down-regulated BCL-2 level(P＜0.05)and up-regulated the levels of Cleaved caspase-3 and Cleaved caspase-9(P＜0.05).Conclusion PHS may inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cells by inducing mitochondria-dependent apoptosis,possibly through PHS and BCL-2 interaction.

Objective To observe the reproducibility of radiomics feature(RF)extracted from virtual monoenergetic image(VMI)of rabbit VX2 hepatoma models obtained with 3 different dual-energy CT(DECT)systems,and to explore relationship of reproducibility and diagnostic performance of RF.Methods Fifteen rabbits with VX2 hepatoma were randomly divided into 3 groups(each n=5).Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scanning under volume CT dose index(CTDIvol)levels of 6,9 and 12 mGy were performed with dual-source DECT(dsDECT),rapid kV switching DECT(rsDECT)and dual-layer detector DECT(dlDECT),respectively.VMI were reconstructed at 10 keV increments from 40 to 140 keV.RF were extracted from VMI,the reproducibility was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficient(ICC),and those with ICC≥0.8 were considered as reproducible RF.The percentage of reproducible features(denoted by R)were compared among different scanner pairings and different CTDIvol levels.Within each CTDIvol group,the reconstruction energy levels yielding the maximum number(denoted by N)of common RF across different scanner pairings were identified.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated,and the diagnostic efficacies of reproducible RF and other RF were compared under optimal reproducible conditions.Spearman correlation coefficient between ICC and the corresponding AUC of RF were calculated.Results RrsDECT-dsDECT(6.45％,95％CI[2.36％,8.87％])was higher than RdlDECT-dsDECT(0.72％,95％CI[0.15％,1.79％])and RrsDECT-dlDECT(1.43％,95％CI[0.60％,4.06％])(all adjusted P＜0.05),R9mGy(3.70％,95％CI[1.31％,5.73％])and R12mGy(2.63％,95％CI[0.60％,6.69％])were higher than R6mGy(1.31％,95％CI[0.12％,1.55％])(all adjusted P＜0.05).The optimal reproducible reconstruction energy levels of RF under CTDIvol of 6,9 and 12 mGy concentrated at 50-70 keV.AUC of reproducible RFs were higher than of other RF(all adjusted P＜0.05)and had certain correlation with the reproducibility(rs=0.102-0.516,P＜0.05).Conclusion The reproducibility of RF extracted from contrast-enhanced VMI CT images of rabbit VX2 hepatoma models associated with DECT scanner,CTDIvol level and reconstruction energy level.RF with higher reproducibility might have better diagnostic performance.

Objective To investigate the value of CT radiomics combined with CT and preoperative pathological features for predicting postoperative early recurrence(ER)of local advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(LAESCC).Methods Data of 334 patients with LAESCC were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into training set(n=234)and verification set(n=100)at the ratio of 7:3 and were followed up to observe ER(recurrence within 12 months after surgery)or not.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze clinical,CT and preoperative pathological features of LAESCC in patients with or without ER in training set.The independent risk factors of ER were screened,and a CT-preoperative pathology model was constructed.Based on venous phase CT in training set,the radiomics features of lesions were extracted and screened to establish radiomics model,and finally a combined model was established based on radiomics model and the independent risk factors.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were drawn,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of each model.Results Among 334 cases,168 were found with but 166 without ER.In training set,117 cases were found with while the rest 117 without ER,while in verification set,51 were found with but 49 without ER.The length of lesions,cT stage and cN stage shown on CT and tumor differentiation degree displayed with preoperative pathology were all independent risk factors for ER of LAESCC(all P＜0.05).The AUC of CT-preoperative pathology model in training set and validation set was 0.759 and 0.783,respectively.Ten best radiomics features of LAESCC were selected,and AUC of the established radiomics model in training set and validation set was 0.770 and 0.730,respectively.The AUC of combined model in training and validation set was 0.838 and 0.826,respectively.The AUC of CT radiomics combined with CT and preoperative pathological features in training set was higher than that of CT-preoperative pathologymodel and radiomics model(both P＜0.01).Conclusion CT radiomics combined with CT and preoperative pathological features could effectively predict postoperative ER of LAESCC.

Esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) is one of the main complications of decompensated portal hypertension, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis, and it often has a high mortality rate. Medication combined with endoscopy is the main prevention and treatment method for EGVB, while transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with variceal embolization can also be selected for some high-risk patients, and individualized diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension based on hepatic venous pressure gradient should become the latest consensus and the main strategy. This article mainly reviews endoscopic therapy and TIPS for the prevention and treatment of EGVB patients with decompensated portal hypertension in terms of selection of indications, incidence rate of complications, and respective advantages and disadvantages.

Objective:To determine the prevalence and risk factors of constipation in Hangzhou urban areas by analyzing data from a recent epidemiological survey.Methods:From August 2022 to June 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 43 communities on eight streets in suburbs of Hangzhou, including Wangjiang, Sijiqing, Puyan, Changhe, Ziyang, Xiaoshanchengxiang, Zhuantang, and Banshan. Written questionnaires were filled out face to face by community doctors. The prevalence of constipation was investigated using a combination of the Bristol stool typing method and the Rome IV criteria. The risk factors for constipation were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:The study cohort comprised 10,479 participants, 5551 of whom were male (53.0%) and 4928 female (47.0%). The overall prevalence of constipation was 10.6% (1107/10,479). The prevalence was 11.0% (613/5551) for male and 10.0% (494/4928) for female participants; this difference is not statistically significant ( P>0.05).There were no significant differences in the prevalence of constipation between different categories of body mass index ( P>0.05). The prevalence of constipation was highest in individuals aged 70 years and above, accounting for 15.4% (264/1717) of all cases. There were significant differences in the prevalence of constipation between different occupations, marital statuses, and educational levels ( P<0.001). Patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus had a higher prevalence of constipation than those without these conditions, those who had been taking long-term medication had a higher prevalence of constipation than those who did not, parents of children with constipation had a higher prevalence of constipation than those with children who did not have constipation, and there were other significant differences in various variables ( P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of modifiable factors revealed that eating less fruit (OR=1.284, 95%CI: 1.061–1.553, P=0.010), liking spicy and salty food (OR=1.234, 95%CI: 1.039–1.466, P=0.016), sleeping for too long (OR=1.644, 95%CI: 1.260–2.144, P<0.001), irregular sleep patterns (OR=1.370, 95%CI: 1.127–1.665, P=0.002) and minimal exercise (OR=1.388, 95% CI: 1.168–1.649, P<0.001) were all risk factors for constipation; whereas mix diets (OR=0.709,95%CI:0.608–0.826, P<0.001), meat diets (OR=0.604,95%CI: 0.495–0.736, P<0.001), moderate alcohol consumption (OR=0.659, 95% CI: 0.534–0.812, P<0.001), less or no drinking (OR=0.523, 95% CI: 0.428–0.638, P<0.001), and non-smoking (OR=0.819, 95%CI:0.674–0.995, P<0.001) protected against constipation. We found no association between dietary preferences and the risk of constipation (refined grains: OR=1.147, 95%CI:0.944–1.393, P=0.167; no specific preference: OR=0.935, 95%CI:0.783–1.117, P=0.459). The rate of agreement between self-evaluation of constipation by the respondents and objective criteria was higher for negatives (95.8%) than for positives (38.0%). Conclusion:The prevalence of constipation is relatively high in the urban population of Hangzhou. A good lifestyle and diet can significantly reduce its incidence. There should be more emphasis on preventive education, promotion of prevention of constipation, and advocacy for a healthy lifestyle.

Objective:To determine the prevalence and risk factors of constipation in Hangzhou urban areas by analyzing data from a recent epidemiological survey.Methods:From August 2022 to June 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 43 communities on eight streets in suburbs of Hangzhou, including Wangjiang, Sijiqing, Puyan, Changhe, Ziyang, Xiaoshanchengxiang, Zhuantang, and Banshan. Written questionnaires were filled out face to face by community doctors. The prevalence of constipation was investigated using a combination of the Bristol stool typing method and the Rome IV criteria. The risk factors for constipation were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:The study cohort comprised 10,479 participants, 5551 of whom were male (53.0%) and 4928 female (47.0%). The overall prevalence of constipation was 10.6% (1107/10,479). The prevalence was 11.0% (613/5551) for male and 10.0% (494/4928) for female participants; this difference is not statistically significant ( P>0.05).There were no significant differences in the prevalence of constipation between different categories of body mass index ( P>0.05). The prevalence of constipation was highest in individuals aged 70 years and above, accounting for 15.4% (264/1717) of all cases. There were significant differences in the prevalence of constipation between different occupations, marital statuses, and educational levels ( P<0.001). Patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus had a higher prevalence of constipation than those without these conditions, those who had been taking long-term medication had a higher prevalence of constipation than those who did not, parents of children with constipation had a higher prevalence of constipation than those with children who did not have constipation, and there were other significant differences in various variables ( P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of modifiable factors revealed that eating less fruit (OR=1.284, 95%CI: 1.061–1.553, P=0.010), liking spicy and salty food (OR=1.234, 95%CI: 1.039–1.466, P=0.016), sleeping for too long (OR=1.644, 95%CI: 1.260–2.144, P<0.001), irregular sleep patterns (OR=1.370, 95%CI: 1.127–1.665, P=0.002) and minimal exercise (OR=1.388, 95% CI: 1.168–1.649, P<0.001) were all risk factors for constipation; whereas mix diets (OR=0.709,95%CI:0.608–0.826, P<0.001), meat diets (OR=0.604,95%CI: 0.495–0.736, P<0.001), moderate alcohol consumption (OR=0.659, 95% CI: 0.534–0.812, P<0.001), less or no drinking (OR=0.523, 95% CI: 0.428–0.638, P<0.001), and non-smoking (OR=0.819, 95%CI:0.674–0.995, P<0.001) protected against constipation. We found no association between dietary preferences and the risk of constipation (refined grains: OR=1.147, 95%CI:0.944–1.393, P=0.167; no specific preference: OR=0.935, 95%CI:0.783–1.117, P=0.459). The rate of agreement between self-evaluation of constipation by the respondents and objective criteria was higher for negatives (95.8%) than for positives (38.0%). Conclusion:The prevalence of constipation is relatively high in the urban population of Hangzhou. A good lifestyle and diet can significantly reduce its incidence. There should be more emphasis on preventive education, promotion of prevention of constipation, and advocacy for a healthy lifestyle.

Objective:To investigate the effects and potential mechanism of vitamin D supplementation on testicular function in aging rats induced by D-galactose.Methods:The aging rats were induced by D-galactose with subcutaneous injection. The animals were randomly divided into 6 groups: aging rats (DG), aging rats with low-dose vitamin D supplementation (LD), aging rats with high-dose vitamin D supplementation (HD), normal control rats(NC), normal rats with low-dose vitamin D supplementation(LN), normal rats with high-dose vitamin D supplementation (HN). The body weight, testicular weight, serum testosterone concentrations and sperm quality of the rats in each group were measured. The testis morphological changes were detected using light microscopy. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and level of malondialdehyde(MDA) were determined with spectrophotometer. The expression levels of Nrf2, GCLC, SOD2 and VDR in testis were detected by western blot.Results:At baseline, compared with NC group, testicular weight, serum testosterone level, SOD activity, Nrf2, GCLC and SOD2 expression levels were significantly decreased in DG group, while MDA level was significantly increased. After vitamin D supplementation, testicular weight, testosterone levels and SOD activity in both of HD and LD groups were significantly increased, while the MDA level was significantly decreased. The expression levels of Nrf2, GCLC, SOD2 and VDR were significantly increased.Conclusion:Vitamin D supplementation may enhance the testicular antioxidant capacity through activating Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, and improve the testicular function in D-galactose-induced aging rats.

Objective:To explore the value of multiphasic CT-based radiomics signature in predicting the invasive behavior of pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (pSPN).Methods:The multiphasic CT images of patients with pSPN confirmed by postoperative pathology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2012 to January 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 23 cases of invasiveness and 59 cases of non-invasiveness. The region of interest(ROI) was artificially delineated layer by layer in the plain scan, arterial-phase and venous-phase images, respectively. The 1 316 image features were extracted from each ROI. The data set was divided into training and validation sets with a ratio of 7∶3 by stratified random sampling, and synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) algorithm was used for oversampling in the training set to generate invasive and non-invasive balanced data for building the training model. The constructed model was validated in the validation set. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis was used to evaluate model performance and the Delong′s test was applied to compare the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of different predict models. The improvement for classification efficiency of each independent model or their combinations were also assessed by net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) indices.Results:After feature extraction, 2, 6 and 3 features were retained to construct plain-scanned model, arterial-phase and venous-phase models, respectively. Seven independent-phase and combined-phase models were established. Except the plain-scanned model, the AUC values of other models were greater than 0.800. The arterial-phase model had the best efficiency for classification among all independent-phase models. The AUC values of arterial-phase model in the SMOTE training and validation sets were 0.913 and 0.873, respectively. By combining the radiomics signature of the arterial-phase and venous-phase models, the AUC values of training and validation sets increased to 0.934 and 0.913 respectively. There were no significant differences of the AUC values between the scan-arterial venous-phase model and arterial venous-phase model in both training and validation sets (both P>0.05). The NRI and IDI indexes showed that the combined form of plain-scan model and arterial-venous-phase model could not significantly improve the classification efficiency in the validation set (both NRI and IDI<0). Conclusions:The arterial-phase CT-based radiomics model has a good predictive performance in the invasive behavior of pSPN, and the combination with a venous-phase radiomics model can further improve the model performance.

Objective:To investigate the efficiency of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm in the image quality and detection of hypovascular hepatic metastases under low radiation doses in comparison with adaptive statistical iterative construction-V (ASiR-V).Methods:Fifty-six patients with suspected hypovascular hepatic metastases who needed abdominal enhanced CT scans were collected prospectively in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January to April 2021. The patients received conventional radiation dose with tube current-time products of 400 mA CT scans in the first venous phase, low-dose CT scans in the second venous phase, which were set as tube current-time products of 280 mA for group A (19 cases), 200 mA for group B (19 cases) and 120 mA for group C (18 case), respectively. The images of first venous phase and 3 groups of second venous phase were both reconstructed with ASiR-V60% and high-DLIR (DLIR-H). Quantitative parameters [image noise, liver and portal vein signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR)] and qualitative parameters (overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, diagnostic confidence) were compared between ASiR-V60% and DLIR-H images, and the effective radiation dose (ED) and the lesion detectability of each group was recorded. The paired t test was used to compare quantitative parameters, whereas the Wilcoxon signed-rank test of paired data was used to compare qualitative parameters. Results:In the second venous phase, ED was (5.56±0.35) mSv in group A, (3.88±0.23) mSv in group B, and (2.42±0.23) mSv in group C, with a decrease of 30%, 50% and 70% compared with the first venous phase, respectively. Moreover, with the decrease of radiation dose, the noise gradually increased, and the CNR lesions, SNR liver and SNR portal vein all gradually decreased. DLIR-H images had statistically better quantitative scores than ASiR-V60% images when the same radiation dose was applied (all P<0.001). Furthermore, the qualitative parameters of each group decreased with the decrease of radiation dose. Under the same radiation dose, the overall image quality, lesion conspicuity and diagnostic confidence of DLIR-H were higher than those of ASiR-V60% (all P<0.001). All lesions [100% (84/84)] were detected by ASIR-V60% and DLIR-H in group A, 92.0% (75/81) in group B, and 88.0% (79/89) in group C. Conclusions:Compared with ASiR-V60%, DLIR-H could reduce image noise, improve overall image quality and lesion conspicuity of hypovascular hepatic metastases as well as increase diagnostic confidence under different radiation doses.