Objective:To explore the value of quantitative parameters of enhanced MRI in predicting the establishment of inferior vena cava collateral circulation in patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.Methods:Sixty-seven patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus who underwent radical resection and inferior vena cava venography in First Medical Center, PLA General Hospital from May 2006 to January 2021 were included retrospectively. According to the results of inferior vena cava venography, the patients were divided into two groups: the well-established collateral circulation group ( n=41) and the poor-established collateral circulation group ( n=26). Quantitative parameters were measured on preoperative enhanced MRI images, including tumor size, the maximum diameter of bilateral lumbar veins, the length of tumor thrombus, and the long and short diameters of tumor thrombus. Student′s t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between the two groups. The independent risk factors related to the establishment of collateral circulation were obtained by binary logistic regression analysis and the model was established. The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to evaluate MRI quantitative parameters and the logistic model, and the area under the curve (AUC) was compared by the DeLong test. Results:Between the well-established collateral circulation group and the poor-established collateral circulation group, the maximum diameter of the right lumbar vein, the maximum diameter of the left lumbar vein, the length of the tumor thrombus, the long diameter of the tumor thrombus, and the short diameter of the tumor thrombus were different significantly ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the tumor size between the two groups ( t=0.30, P=0.766). The AUC of the maximum diameters of the right lumbar veins and left lumbar veins, length of tumor thrombus, long and short diameters of tumor thrombus in predicting the collateral circulation were 0.917 (95%CI 0.824-0.971), 0.869 (95%CI 0.764-0.939), 0.756 (95%CI 0.636-0.853), 0.886 (95%CI 0.785-0.951), and 0.906 (95%CI 0.809-0.963). The AUC of the maximum diameter of the right lumbar vein and the short diameter of the tumor thrombus were larger than those of the length of the tumor thrombus, and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=2.25, 2.04, P=0.025, 0.041), but the AUC between other parameters had no significant difference ( P>0.05). The maximum diameter of the right lumbar vein (OR 24.210, 95%CI 2.845-205.998), the maximum diameter of the left lumbar vein (OR 20.973, 95%CI 2.359-186.490), and the length of the tumor thrombus (OR 23.006, 95%CI 2.952-179.309) were independent risk factors for predicting the establishment of inferior vena cava collateral circulation. The AUC of logistic model was 0.969 (95%CI 0.931-1.000). Conclusion:Quantitative parameters of tumor thrombus and lumbar vein based on enhanced MRI have a good ability in predicting the establishment of inferior vena cava collateral circulation in patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. The maximum diameter of bilateral lumbar veins and the length of the tumor thrombus were independent risk factors for inferior vena cava collateral circulation.

Objective:To investigate the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differential diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:A diagnostic test. In this prospective study, patients with T2DM who underwent both IVIM-DWI and renal biopsy at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between October 2017 and September 2021 were consecutively enrolled. IVIM-DWI parameters including perfusion fraction (f), pure diffusion coefficient (D), and pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*) were measured in the renal cortex, medulla, and parenchyma. Patients were divided into the DN group and NDRD group based on the renal biopsy results. IVIM-DWI parameters, clinical information, and diabetes-related biochemical indicators between the two groups were compared using Student′s t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. The correlation of IVIM-DWI parameters with diabetic nephropathy histological scores were analyzed using Spearman′s correlation analyzes. The diagnostic efficiency of IVIM-DWI parameters for distinguishing between DN and NDRD were assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results:A total of 27 DN patients and 23 NDRD patients were included in this study. The DN group comprised 19 male and 8 female patients, with an average age of 52±9 years. The NDRD group comprised 16 male and 7 female patients, with an average age of 49±10 years. The DN group had a higher D* value in the renal cortex and a lower f value in the renal medulla than the NDRD group (9.84×10 -3 mm 2/s vs. 7.35×10 -3 mm 2/s, Z=-3.65; 41.01% vs. 46.74%, Z=-2.29; all P<0.05). The renal medulla D* value was negatively correlated with DN grades, interstitial lesion score, and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) score ( r=-0.571, -0.409, -0.409; all P<0.05) while the renal cortex f value was positively correlated with vascular sclerosis score ( r=0.413, P=0.032). The renal cortex D* value had the highest area under the curve (AUC) for discriminating between the DN and NDRD groups (AUC=0.802, sensitivity 91.3%, specificity 55.6%). Conclusion:IVIM-derived renal cortex D* value can be used non-invasively to differentiate DN from NDRD in patients with T2DM that can potentially facilitate individualized treatment planning for diabetic patients.

Objective:To construct and evaluate a screening and diagnostic system based on color fundus images and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted screening for optic neuritis (ON) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Methods:A diagnostic test study. From 2016 to 2020, 178 cases 267 eyes of NAION patients (NAION group) and 204 cases 346 eyes of ON patients (ON group) were examined and diagnosed in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University; 513 healthy individuals of 1 160 eyes (the normal control group) with normal fundus by visual acuity, intraocular pressure and optical coherence tomography examination were collected from 2018 to 2020. All 2 909 color fundus images were as the data set of the screening and diagnosis system, including 730, 805, and 1 374 images for the NAION group, ON group, and normal control group, respectively. The correctly labeled color fundus images were used as input data, and the EfficientNet-B0 algorithm was selected for model training and validation. Finally, three systems for screening abnormal optic discs, ON, and NAION were constructed. The subject operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and heat map were used as indicators of diagnostic efficacy.Results:In the test data set, the AUC for diagnosing the presence of an abnormal optic disc, the presence of ON, and the presence of NAION were 0.967 [95% confidence interval ( CI) 0.947-0.980], 0.964 (95% CI 0.938-0.979), and 0.979 (95% CI 0.958-0.989), respectively. The activation area of the systems were mainly located in the optic disc area in the decision-making process. Conclusion:Abnormal optic disc, ON and NAION, and screening diagnostic systems based on color fundus images have shown accurate and efficient diagnostic performance.

Sex reversal, representing extraordinary sexual plasticity during the life cycle, not only triggers reproduction in animals but also affects reproductive and endocrine system-related diseases and cancers in humans. Sex reversal has been broadly reported in animals; however, an integrated resource hub of sex reversal information is still lacking. Here, we constructed a comprehensive database named ASER (Animal Sex Reversal) by integrating sex reversal-related data of 18 species from teleostei to mammalia. We systematically collected 40,018 published papers and mined the sex reversal-associated genes (SRGs), including their regulatory networks, from 1611 core papers. We annotated homologous genes and computed conservation scores for whole genomes across the 18 species. Furthermore, we collected available RNA-seq datasets and investigated the expression dynamics of SRGs during sex reversal or sex determination processes. In addition, we manually annotated 550 in situ hybridization (ISH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and im-munohistochemistry (IHC) images of SRGs from the literature and described their spatial expression in the gonads. Collectively, ASER provides a unique and integrated resource for researchers to query and reuse organized data to explore the mechanisms and applications of SRGs in animal breeding and human health. The ASER database is publicly available at http://aser.ihb.ac.cn/.

Objective To evaluate the effect of sevoflurane anesthesia on the expression of hippocampal α4 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α4nAChR) in rats.Methods One hundred and forty-four Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,aged 3-4 months,weighing 220-270 g,were divided into 4 groups (n =36 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),sevoflurane anesthesia for 1 h group (group S1),sevoflurane anesthesia for 3 h group (group S2) and sevoflurane anesthesia for 5 h group (group S3).Group C inhaled air,and S1,S2 and S3 groups inhaled 3％ sevoflurane for 1,3 and 5 h,respectively.Twelve rats in each group were selected at 1 and 7 days after emergence from anesthesia to undergo spatial probe test.Rats were then sacrificed immediately after anesthesia and at 1 and 7 days after emergence from anesthesia,and hippocampi were removed for determination of the expression of α4nAchR protein and mRNA in hippocampal neurons (by Western blot or real-time polymerase chain reaction).Results Compared with group C,the duration of staying at the target quadrant was significantly shortened,and the ratio of duration of staying at the original platform quadrant to the total duration and ratio of swimming distance in the original platform quadrant to the total distance were decreased on 1 and 7 days after emergence from anesthesia,the expression of α4nAchR protein and mRNA was down-regulated,and the number of positive cells was reduced in S1,S2 and S3 groups (P＜0.05).Compared with S1 and S2 groups,the duration of staying at the target quadrant was significantly shortened,the ratio of duration of staying at the original platform quadrant to the total duration and ratio of swimming distance in the original platform quadrant to the total distance were decreased on 1 day after emergence from anesthesia in group S3 (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of α4nAchR protein and mRNA or number of positive cells at each time point between group S1,group S2 and group S3 (P＞0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which sevoflurane anesthesia induces cognitive dysfunction may be partially related to down-regulating the expression of hippocampal α4nAchR in rats.

Objective To investigate the correlations of serum total bilirubin level with infarct volume,severity and etiological typing in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods Patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to hospital from January 2012 to January 2014 were used as subjects of study.Their clinical and imaging data were collected,and serum total bilirubin levels were detected.The correlations of the serum total bilirubin levels with the infarct volume,severity and etiological typing were analyzed.Results A total of 290 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in the study.The patients were divided into either a large infarction group (≥1.8 cm3,n =145) or a small infarction group (＜ 1.8 cm3;n =145)according to the median cerebral infarction volume.The total bilirubin level of the large infarction group was significantly higher than that of the small infarction group (16.896± 7.761 μmol/L vs.13.039±4.477 μmol/L;t =5.185,P ＜ 0.001).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the bilirubin highest quantile group (＞ 17.893 μmol/L) was an independent risk factor for large infarction (odds ratio [OR] 2.754,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.028-7.375;P =0.044).According to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score,the patients were divided into a mild stroke group (NIHSS score ＜8;n =210) and a moderate to severe stroke group (NIHSS score≥ 8,n =80).The total bilirubin level of the moderate to severe stroke group was significantly higher than that of the mild stroke group (16.861 ±7.689)μmol/L vs.14.246 ± 6.019 μmol/L;t =3.052,P =0.002).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the total bilirubin level was not an independent risk factor for moderate to severe stroke.Small artery occlusive stroke,large artery atherosclerotic stroke,and other definite causes of stroke were combined into non-cardioembolic stroke group (n =244).The total bilirubin level in the cardioembolic stroke group (n=46) was significantly higher than that in the non-cardioembolic stroke group (19.639±8.409 μmol/L vs.14.087 ±5.831 μmol/L;t =5.479,P＜0.001).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the bilirubin highest quartile group (＞ 17.893 μmol/L) was an independent risk factor for cardioembolic stroke (OR 8.405,95％ CI 1.719-41.106,P =0.009).Conclusions The increased serum total bilirubin level is an independent risk factor for larger infarction and cardioembolic stroke.As an oxidative stress index,serum total bilirubin in acute stage can provide help for early identification of infarct volume and etiological subtype in patients with ischemic stroke.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of liver tissue pathology and immunohistochemistry in HBeAg negative hepatitis B virus infection and provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment.Methods Liv-er biopsy was carried out on the 63 HBeAg negative HBV infections,then liver tissue inflammation,fibrosis and immu-nohistochemistry were detected.Results In HBeAg negative and HBV DNA negative patients,both the male and female,ALT normal and mildly abnormal group had no significant difference in liver inflammation and fibrosis(all P >0.05).Among the patients with fibrosis stage ≥S2,the ratio(30 /41,73.2%)of patients above 30 years old was higher than that below 30 years old (6 /14,46.2%)(P =0.041).There were no differences in liver tissue inflamma-tion(5 /34,14.7% vs.9 /29,31.0%)and fibrosis (8 /34,23.5% vs.8 /29,27.6%)between HBV DNA negative group and HBV DNA positive patients(all P >0.05).Only 2 cases of HBcAg positive in those 63 cases of liver tissue immunohistochemistry.Conclusion The liver tissues of HBeAg negative HBV DNA negative or positive patients have obvious liver inflammation and fibrosis,and the necessary treatment measures should be taken.HBcAg positive is extremely low in those liver tissue immunohistochemistry,which lead to the pathogenesis of liver inflammation needs further research.

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes in HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load and their correlation in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HBV-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC).

METHODSForty-six patients with mild to moderate CHB (CHB-LM), 24 patients with severe CHB (CHB-S), and 28 patients with HBV-LC at admission, and 51 patients with HBV-LC at 4.08 ± 3.06 months during antiviral treatment were tested for serum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load using Abbott chemiluminescence and fluorescence quantitative PCR, respectively.

RESULTSThe serum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load gradually decreased with increased disease severity (from CHB-LM, CHB-S to HBV-LC; χ(2)=12.537 and 8.381, respectively, P<0.05). HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load were significantly higher in CHB-LM and CHB-S groups than in HBV-LC group (P<0.05), but comparable between CHB-LM and CHB-S groups (Z=-0.649 and 0.032, respectively, P>0.05). Among HBeAg-positive patients, HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load tended to decrease with increased disease severity (from CHB-LM, CHB-S to HBV-LC; χ(2)=6.146, P=0.046 and χ(2)=1.017, P>0.05; respectively), and CHB-LM group had significantly higher HBsAg titer than HBV-LC group (Z=-2.247, P=0.025). Among the HBeAg-negative patients, serum HBsAg and HBV DNA load gradually declined with the disease severity (χ(2)=8.660 and 13.581, respectively, P<0.05), and were obviously higher in CHB-LM and CHB-S groups than in HBV-LC group (P<0.05). Positive correlations were found between serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels in CHB-LM (r=0.389, P=0.009) and HBV-LC groups (r=0.431, P=0.022), but not in CHB-S group (r=0.348, P=0.104). After antiviral therapy, the serum HBsAg titer was slightly decreased (Z=-1.050, P=0.294) while HBV DNA load markedly reduced (Z=-5.415, P<0.001), showing no correlation between them (r=0.241, P=0.111) or between the measurements before and after treatment (r=0.257, P=0.085).

CONCLUSIONSerum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load decreases progressively from CHB-LM to CHB-S and HBV-LC in both HBeAg- positive and -negative patients. The serum HBsAg titer is positively correlated with HBV DNA load, but their levels are not consistently parallel.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; virology ; Viral Load

Objective To explore the changes in HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load and their correlation in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HBV-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC). Methods Forty-six patients with mild to moderate CHB (CHB-LM), 24 patients with severe CHB (CHB-S), and 28 patients with HBV-LC at admission, and 51 patients with HBV-LC at 4.08± 3.06 months during antiviral treatment were tested for serum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load using Abbott chemiluminescence and fluorescence quantitative PCR, respectively. Results The serum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load gradually decreased with increased disease severity (from CHB-LM, CHB-S to HBV-LC;χ2=12.537 and 8.381, respectively, P<0.05). HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load were significantly higher in CHB-LM and CHB-S groups than in HBV-LC group (P<0.05), but comparable between CHB-LM and CHB-S groups (Z=-0.649 and 0.032, respectively, P>0.05). Among HBeAg-positive patients, HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load tended to decrease with increased disease severity (from CHB-LM, CHB-S to HBV-LC;χ2=6.146, P=0.046 andχ2=1.017, P>0.05;respectively), and CHB-LM group had significantly higher HBsAg titer than HBV-LC group (Z=-2.247, P=0.025). Among the HBeAg-negative patients, serum HBsAg and HBV DNA load gradually declined with the disease severity (χ2=8.660 and 13.581, respectively, P<0.05), and were obviously higher in CHB-LM and CHB-S groups than in HBV-LC group (P<0.05). Positive correlations were found between serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels in CHB-LM (r=0.389, P=0.009) and HBV-LC groups (r=0.431, P=0.022), but not in CHB-S group (r=0.348, P=0.104). After antiviral therapy, the serum HBsAg titer was slightly decreased (Z=-1.050, P=0.294) while HBV DNA load markedly reduced (Z=-5.415, P<0.001), showing no correlation between them (r=0.241, P=0.111) or between the measurements before and after treatment (r=0.257, P=0.085). Conclusion Serum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load decreases progressively from CHB-LM to CHB-S and HBV-LC in both HBeAg- positive and-negative patients. The serum HBsAg titer is positively correlated with HBV DNA load, but their levels are not consistently parallel.

Objective To explore the changes in HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load and their correlation in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HBV-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC). Methods Forty-six patients with mild to moderate CHB (CHB-LM), 24 patients with severe CHB (CHB-S), and 28 patients with HBV-LC at admission, and 51 patients with HBV-LC at 4.08± 3.06 months during antiviral treatment were tested for serum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load using Abbott chemiluminescence and fluorescence quantitative PCR, respectively. Results The serum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load gradually decreased with increased disease severity (from CHB-LM, CHB-S to HBV-LC;χ2=12.537 and 8.381, respectively, P<0.05). HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load were significantly higher in CHB-LM and CHB-S groups than in HBV-LC group (P<0.05), but comparable between CHB-LM and CHB-S groups (Z=-0.649 and 0.032, respectively, P>0.05). Among HBeAg-positive patients, HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load tended to decrease with increased disease severity (from CHB-LM, CHB-S to HBV-LC;χ2=6.146, P=0.046 andχ2=1.017, P>0.05;respectively), and CHB-LM group had significantly higher HBsAg titer than HBV-LC group (Z=-2.247, P=0.025). Among the HBeAg-negative patients, serum HBsAg and HBV DNA load gradually declined with the disease severity (χ2=8.660 and 13.581, respectively, P<0.05), and were obviously higher in CHB-LM and CHB-S groups than in HBV-LC group (P<0.05). Positive correlations were found between serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels in CHB-LM (r=0.389, P=0.009) and HBV-LC groups (r=0.431, P=0.022), but not in CHB-S group (r=0.348, P=0.104). After antiviral therapy, the serum HBsAg titer was slightly decreased (Z=-1.050, P=0.294) while HBV DNA load markedly reduced (Z=-5.415, P<0.001), showing no correlation between them (r=0.241, P=0.111) or between the measurements before and after treatment (r=0.257, P=0.085). Conclusion Serum HBsAg titer and HBV DNA load decreases progressively from CHB-LM to CHB-S and HBV-LC in both HBeAg- positive and-negative patients. The serum HBsAg titer is positively correlated with HBV DNA load, but their levels are not consistently parallel.