The connotation of the "four-dimensional pivot-earth" qi transformation mode is a dialectical system of the ascending and descending of yin-yang qi movement， which presented as "the middle Jiao showing earth qi mediating， the left wheel showing water and wood ascending， and the right wheel showing fire and metal converting and descending". Based on this dialectical thinking， it is believed that the core pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis is deficiency of center qi and transportation failure to pivot-earth； the middle-stage characteristics of the disease progression are the loss of mediation of the central qi， resulting in water coldness and wood constraint， and clear yang failing to ascend； the final outcome of this disease is the loss of astringeing of lung metal and qi sinking. The treatment should be based on the rule of qi movement， so for the start-stage， Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤） should be used as the basis to nourish the earth and consolidate the root， and restrengthen the middle qi； for the middle-stage， herbs like Yingyanghuo （Epimedium brevicornu Maxim.）， Bajitian （Morinda officinalis How） could be combined to warm the water and soothe the wood， raise yang and boost qi； for the final stage， plus Sini Decoction （四逆汤） to astringe metal to stop collapse， and powerfully supplement original qi. All these medicinals can promote pivot-earth re-transportation， four-dimensional transformation， and regular circulation of qi movement， so as to provide thoughts for improving the clinical effectiveness of myasthenia gravis.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between plasma fibrinogen/serum albumin ratio (FAR) and the degree of cerebral artery stenosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).Methods:Clinical data of 189 patients with acute cerebral infarction diagnosed and treated in the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College from January 2021 to March 2023 were selected for retrospective analysis. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was improved, and they were divided into four groups according to the degree of intracranial vascular stenosis according to NASCET grading method: no stenosis group (47 cases), mild stenosis group (45 cases), moderate stenosis group (39 cases) and severe stenosis and occlusion group (58 cases). The differences of basic data, plasma fibrinogen/serum albumin ratio (FAR) and other inflammatory indicators among all groups were compared, and the correlation between FAR level and the severity of cerebral artery stenosis was analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to explore the factors influencing to cerebral artery stenosis and ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of FAR in the degree of cerebral artery stenosis in cerebral infarction patients.Results:There were significant differences in blood neutrophil (NEU), mean platelet volume (MPV), fibrinogen (FIB), fibrinogen (FIB), albumin (ALB) and FAR among the 4 groups (statistical values were H=11.50, H=8.44, F=5.16, H=30.93, H=40.38; all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between FAR and the degree of cerebral artery stenosis ( r=0.455, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression showed that FAR was an independent risk factor for the degree of cerebral artery stenosis ( OR=1.445, 95% CI=1.261-1.655, P<0.001). Conclusion:FAR is an independent risk factor for cerebral artery stenosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and may be a new biomarker for predicting cerebral artery stenosis.

Chronic internal carotid artery occlusion, a common clinical lesion caused by atherosclerosis, was also one of the common vascular diseases in the middle and old age. It could slow down the blood flow rate of blood vessels, which leaded to changes in the blood supply of brain tissue, and secondary causes abnormal metabolism of brain nerves and brain tissue. At the same time, long-term cerebral hypoperfusion would induce cognitive impairment, which would seriously affect the quality of life of patients. At present, there were two main treatment methods: drug conservative treatment and intravascular intervention, but there was still a great controversy about the survival of the fittest in these two treatment methods. This paper reported the clinical, imaging, therapeutic strategy and prognosis of a case of severe intracranial and extracranial multiple vessel stenosis and occlusion, in order to provide reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of such patients.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between residual cholesterol (RC) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in non-diabetic population.Methods:Non-diabetes population received health examination in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 were retrospectively included. According to the carotid ultrasound results, they were divided into cIMT thickening group (≥1 mm) and non-thickening group (<1 mm). The RC level was calculated according to total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between RC and cIMT. Results:A total of 1 803 non-diabetes subjects, aged 58.3±15.6 years, including 1 100 males (61.0%), were enrolled. There were 916 patients (50.8%) in the cIMT thickening group and 887 (49.2%) in the non-cIMT thickening group. Compared with the non-cIMT thickening group, cIMT thickening group had significantly higher proportion of male, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, past stroke history, smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as significantly higher age, blood glucose, triglyceride, RC, TC and LDL-C, and significantly lower HDL-C (all P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RC was independently associated with cIMT thickening ( Ptrend<0.001). Conclusion:RC is associated with cIMT thickening in non-diabetes population.

Objective:To investigate the predictors of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).Methods:Patients with CVST treated in Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University from January 2008 to March 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. The risk factors, clinical manifestations, imaging examination and 90 d follow-up data were collected. The complicated intracranial hemorrhage group and non-intracranial hemorrhage group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with CVST. Results:A total of 104 patients with CVST were enrolled, including 42 males and 62 females. Their age was 35.24 ± 10.92 years old (range 22-68 years). Thirty-eight patients (36.84%) were complicated with intracranial hemorrhage, including 34 hemorrhagic cerebral infarction and 4 complicated subarachnoid hemorrhage. Univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-intracerebral hemorrhage group, the intracranial hemorrhage group was more common in puerperal/pregnant patients (60.52% vs. 48.48%; P=0.012), with more acute onset (57.89% vs. 48.48%; P=0.004), focal neurological signs (47.37% vs. 19.70%; P=0.003) and seizure (39.47% vs. 18.18%; P=0.017), and the site of thrombosis was more common in the superior sagittal sinus (57.89% vs. 36.36%; P=0.033). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that puerperium/pregnancy (odds ratio 2.857, 95% confidence interval 1.095-7.453; P=0.031) and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (odds ratio 2.847, 95% confidence interval 1.110-7.302; P=0.027) were the independent predictors of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with CVST. The analysis at 90 d after onset showed that there was no significant difference in the good outcome rate between the intracranial hemorrhage group and the non-intracranial hemorrhage group (86.84% vs. 89.39%; P=0.695). Conclusions:Puerperium/pregnancy and superior sagittalsinus thrombosis are the independent risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage in patients with CVST. However, complicated with intracranial hemorrhage is not associated with 90-day clinical outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of deep learning reconstruction (DLR) compared with hybrid iterative reconstruction (Hybrid IR) in improving the image quality in chest low-dose CT (LDCT).Methods:Seventy-seven patients who underwent LDCT scan for physical examination or regular follow-up in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively included. The LDCT images were reconstructed with Hybrid IR at standard level (Hybrid IR Stand) and DLR at standard and strong level (DLR Stand and DLR Strong). Regions of interest were placed on pulmonary lobe, aorta, subscapularis muscle and axillary fat to measure the CT value and image noise. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Subjective image quality was evaluated using Likert 5-score method by two experienced radiologists. The number and features of ground-glass nodule (GGN) were also assessed. If the scores of the two radiologists were inconsistent, the score was determined by the third radiologist. The objective and subjective image evaluation were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Bonferroni test was used for multiple comparisons within the group.Results:Among Hybrid IR Stand, DLR Stand and DLR Strong images, the CT value of pulmonary lobe, aorta, subscapularis muscle and axillary fat had no significant differences (all P>0.05), but the image noise and SNR of pulmonary lobe, aorta, subscapularis muscle and axillary fat had significant differences(all P<0.05), and the CNR of images had significant difference( P<0.05), too. The CNR of Hybrid IR Stand images, DLR stand images and DLR strong images were 0.71 (0.49, 0.88), 1.06 (0.78, 1.32) and 1.14 (0.84, 1.48), respectively. Compared with Hybrid IR images, DLR images had lower objective and subjective image noise,higher SNR and CNR (all P<0.05). The scores of DLR images were superior to Hybrid IR images in identifying lung fissures, pulmonary vessels, trachea and bronchi, lymph nodes, pleura, pericardium and GGN (all P<0.05). Conclusions:DLR significantly reduced the image noise, and DLR images were superior to Hybrid IR images in identifying GGN in chest LDCT while maintaining superior image quality at relatively low radiation dose levels. Thus DLR images can improve the safety of lung cancer screening and pulmonary nodule follow-up by CT.

Objective:To explore the effect of deep learning reconstruction (DLR) on radiation dosage reduction and image quality of CTPA compared with hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR).Methods:A total of 100 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (APE) or indications for CTPA due to other pulmonary artery diseases in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 2020 to April 2021 were prospectively enrolled and divided into HIR group and DLR group according to block randomization, with 50 cases in each group. The patient′s gender, age and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. HIR group and DLR group underwent standard deviation (SD)=8.8 and SD=15 CTPA protocols in combination with HIR and DLR algorithm respectively. Other scanning parameters and contrast medium injection plan were the same. The effective dose (ED) and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) were calculated. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn in the lumen of Grade 1-3 pulmonary arteries and bilateral paravertebral muscles. The corresponding CT and SD values were recorded to acquire signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast noise ratio (CNR). Based on a double-blind method, two radiologists evaluated the subjective noise, visualization of pulmonary arteries, and diagnostic confidence of the two groups by 5-point Likert scales. The inconsistent results were judged comprehensively by the third radiologist. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the demographic data, radiation dosage and quantitative image quality of the two groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the subjective noise, visualization of pulmonary arteries and diagnostic confidence between the two groups. Linear weighted Kappa coefficient was calculated to analyze the consistency of the qualitative scores between the two radiologists. Results:There were no significant differences in gender, age and BMI between the two groups ( P>0.05). The CT values of Grade1-3 pulmonary arteries and paravertebral muscle had no significant differences ( P>0.05). Compared with HIR group, the ED and SSDE in DLR group decreased by about 35% to 1.3 mSv and 4.20 mGy respectively, while the SNR (30±5) and CNR (26±5) of CTPA images were higher in DLR group than those in HIR group (23±5 and 20±5, with t=-6.60 and -5.90, respectively, both P<0.001). The subjective noise score was higher in DLR group than that in HIR group ( Z=-7.34, P<0.001). In addition, two radiologists showed excellent interobserver agreement in DLR group (Kappa=0.847, 95%CI 0.553-1.000). No significant differences were found in visualization of pulmonary arteries and diagnostic confidence between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:DLR further reduced the radiation dosage and improved the image quality of CTPA, with no detriment to diagnostic confidence. Thus DLR is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of chest ultra-low dose CT (ULDCT) using deep learning reconstruction (DLR) for lung cancer screening, and to compare its image quality and nodule detection rate with ULDCT iterative reconstruction (Hybrid IR) and conventional dose CT (RDCT) Hybrid IR.Methods:The patients who underwent chest CT examination for pulmonary nodules in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2020 to March 2021 were prospectively included and underwent chest RDCT (120 kVp, automatic tube current), followed by ULDCT (100 kVp, 20 mA). The RDCT images were reconstructed with Hybrid IR (adaptive iterative dose reduction 3D,AIDR 3D), and ULDCT was reconstructed with AIDR3D and DLR. Radiation dose parameters and nodule numbers were recorded. Image quality was assessed using objective noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the main trachea and left upper lobe, subjective image scores of the lung and nodules. Subjective scores were scored by 2 experienced radiologists on a Likert 5-point scale. The difference of radiation dose was compared with paired t-test between ULDCT and RDCT.The differences of quantitative indexes, objective image noise and subjective scores of the three reconstruction methods were compared with one-way analysis of variance or Friedman test. Results:Forty-five patients were enrolled, including 17 males and 28 females, aged from 32 to 74 (55±11) years. The radiation dose of ULDCT was (0.17±0.01) mSv, which was significantly lower than that of RDCT [(1.35±0.41) mSv, t=15.46, P<0.001]. There were significant differences in the image noise and SNR in the trachea and lung parenchyma and in the CT value of the trachea among ULDCT-AICE, ULDCT-AIDR 3D and RDCT-AIDR 3D images ( P<0.05). Image noise in the trachea and lung parenchyma and CT value in the trachea of ULDCT-AICE were significantly lower than those of ULDCT-AIDR 3D ( P<0.05) and comparable to RDCT-AIDR 3D ( P>0.05). There were significant differences in subjective image scores of the lung and nodules among ULDCT-AICE, ULDCT-AIDR 3D and RDCT-AIDR 3D images (χ2=50.57,117.20, P<0.001). Subjective image scores of the lung and nodules for ULDCT-AICE were significantly higher than those of ULDCT-AIDR 3D ( P<0.05), and non-inferior to RDCT-ADIR 3D ( P>0.05). All 72 clinically significant nodules detected on RDCT-ADIR 3D were also noted on ULDCT-AICE and ULDCT-AIDR 3D images. Conclusions:Chest ULDCT using DLR can significantly reduce the radiation dose, and compared with Hybrid IR, it can effectively reduce the image noise and improve SNR, and display the pulmonary nodules well. The image quality and nodule detection are not inferior to RDCT Hybrid IR routinely used in clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the effects of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH) on the expression of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) in mitochondrial pathway after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.Methods:From March to December in 2019, 45 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation, model and TBH groups. Rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were established by ligation of the left carotid artery. Rat neurological function was evaluated to exclude the rats that failed in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury induction. Ten rats were left in each group. At 0.5 and 12 hours after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, rats in the TBH group were treated by intragastric administration of 12.5 mg/kg TBH and those in the sham-operation and model groups were identically treated by intragastric administration of equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride injection. After 24 hours of reperfusion, rat neurological function was assessed in each group. Then the rats were killed and the brains were harvested. Apoptosis of nerve cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the brain tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. XIAP- and Smac-positive cell count and protein expression were determined by immunohistochemical staining and western blot assay, respectively.Results:Rat neurological function score in the TBH group was significantly lower than that in the model group [(1.36 ± 0.49) points vs. (3.73 ± 0.97) points, t = 6.896, P < 0.001]. In the TBH group, a large number of apoptotic nerve cells were found in the ischemic cerebral cortex, but the number of apoptotic nerve cells in the TBH group was significantly smaller than that in the model group. In the model group, SOD level was significantly lower, MDA, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were significantly higher compared with the sham-operation group [SOD: (51.94 ± 3.46) U/mg vs. (70.68 ± 2.67) U/mg, t = 13.560, P < 0.001; MDA: (5.69 ± 0.78) nmol/mg vs. (1.20 ± 0.96) nmol/mg, t = 11.479, P < 0.001; TNF-α: (89.36 ± 9.84) pg/mg vs. (40.53 ± 4.35) pg/mg, t = 14.353, P < 0.001; IL-1β: (41.35 ± 6.79) pg/mg vs. (17.22 ± 2.31) pg/mg, t = 10.639, P < 0.001]. In the TBH group, SOD level was significantly higher, MDA, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were significantly lower compared with the model group [SOD: (51.94 ± 3.46) U/mg vs. (68.84 ± 5.03) U/mg, t = 8.754, P < 0.001; MDA: (5.69 ± 0.78) nmol/mg vs. (2.46 ± 0.48) nmol/mg, t = 11.153, P < 0.001; TNF-α: (89.36 ± 9.84) pg/mg vs. (57.64 ± 6.22) pg/mg, t = 8.617, P < 0.001; IL-1β: (41.35 ± 6.79) pg/mg vs. (23.84 ± 5.48) pg/mg, t = 6.346, P < 0.001]. XIAP- and Smac-positive cell count and protein expression in the model group were significantly greater than those in the sham-operation group [XIAP-positive cell count: (22.63 ± 4.37) vs. (12.39 ± 3.18), t = 5.992, P < 0.001, Smac-positive cell count: (47.58 ± 6.94) vs. (5.64 ± 1.35), t = 18.759, P < 0.001; XIAP protein expression: (0.53 ± 0.08) vs. (0.24 ± 0.05), t = 9.721, P < 0.001; Smac protein expression: (0.92 ± 0.15) > ( 0.36 ± 0.05), t = 11.200, P < 0.001 ]. In the TBH group, XIAP-positive cell count and XIAP protein expression were significantly higher and Smac-positive cell count and Smac protein expression were significantly lower compared with the model group [XIAP-positive cell count: (36.78 ± 5.26) vs. (22.63 ± 4.37), t = 6.543, P < 0.001, Smac-positive cell count: (31.74 ± 4.26) vs. (47.58 ± 6.94), t = 6.151, P < 0.001; XIAP protein expression: (0.79 ± 0.10) vs. (0.53 ± 0.08), t = 6.420, P < 0.001, Smac protein expression: (0.70 ± 0.09) vs. (0.92 ± 0.15), t = 3.977, P < 0.001]. Conclusion:TBH can effectively reduce neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, which may be related to the regulation of XIAP and Smac signaling pathways.

Objective:To understand the pathogen distribution of children with influenza in North China in the past 2018-2019 years, and compare the accuracy of influenza virus antigen test results with that of influenza virus nucleic acid test results, provide reference data for clinical use good influenza virus pathogen detection methods.Methods:Five hundred and eighty throat swab samples of influenza-like children in 10 hospitals, northern China, were collected from December 2018 to January 2019.Each sample was tested by rapid influenza diagnostic test and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results:Of all 580 clinical samples, 256 positive samples (256/580 cases, 44.14%)were detected by the influenza rapid influenza diagnostic test, of which 235 were pure influenza A(235/256 cases, 91.8%), 21 cases were pave influenza B(21/256 cases, 8.2%), and 324 case were negative samples(324/580 cases, 55.86%). No cases were detected positive A and B at the same time.Of all 580 samples were detected using the A /B influenza virus RT-PCR, and a total of 353 cases(353/580 cases, 60.9%) were positive (of which 242 cases were influenza virus antigen-positive), of which 311 were pure A influenza(311/353 cases, 88.1%) and 41 were pure B influenza(41/353 cases, 11.6%), 1 case of mixed infection of A and B(1/353 cases, 0.3%), and 227 cases were negative(227/580 cases, 39.1%). In 324 cases of influenza virus antigen negative samples, 111 cases(111/324 cases, 34.3%) were positive for influenza virus nucleic acid.The detection rate of influenza A in Taiyuan was 23.2% (22/95 cases), and the detection rate of influenza B was 43.2% (41/95 cases), which was significantly different from other regions.With reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction detection as the standard, the diagnostic value of influenza pathogen detection reagents was evaluated.The sensitivity, specificity, missed diagnosis rate, misdiagnosis rate, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, Youden index and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 68.56%, 93.83%, 31.44%, 6.17%, 94.53%, 65.74%, 11.12, 0.335, 0.624 and 0.812.Conclusions:From December 2018 to January 2019, the majority of children′s influenza in northern China is influenza A virus.Except Taiyuan which is dominated by influenza B. Influenza virus nucleic acid detection has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing influenza, and also has the ability to distinguish virus subtypes.Influenza virus antigen detection has a certain diagnostic value, a good specificity (93.83%), sensitivity (68.56%) which needs to be further improved, and a certain rate of missed diagnosis (31.44%) needs to be paid attention to possible missed diagnosis.Detecting positive cases of influenza virus antigens should be given a fast and effective anti-viral treatment, while the negative cases, especially those at high risk for influenza complications, should be confirmed influenza virus RT-PCR as soon as practical.