Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective:To summarise and analyse the experience in the diagnosis and management of abdominal aortic endograft infection in recent years.Methods:Retrospectively summarised and analysed the general data, clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging findings, causative organisms and treatment choices of 14 patients with abdominal aortic endograft infection treated in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January 2018 to June 2024, and analysed the prognosis of the patients and the risk factors associated with prognosis.Results:Positive bacterial cultures were 10 out of 14 patients. One non-operatively treated patient died of infectious toxic shock. Thirteen surgically treated patients underwent axillary-bifemoral artery bypass, removal of the infected stent, and closure of the aortic stump. Four of the 13 cases had combined aortoenteric fistula, 3 cases underwent one-stage enterocutaneous fistula repair, 1 case only fistula drainage, 3 cases of gastrojejunal anastomosis, all of them underwent gastric or jejunal nutrient tube implantation. Two of the 13 patients had combined the infection foci spread to the renal artery openings. To save the kidney, intraoperative left kidney autologous renal transplantation was performed in 1 case, and autologous saphenous vein reconstruction from celiac trunk artery-left renal artery and superior mesenteric artery-right renal artery was performed in the other case. All 14 patients were retrospectively summarised and followed up in August 2024, with 5 deaths in the early postoperative period (< 3 months), 3 deaths in the mid- to long-term period (≥3 months), and 5 survivors, with a median follow-up time of 2 years (1-5 years) for surviving patients. Among the 13 operated patients, 4 cases were combined with aortoenteric fistula, and 3 cases died in the early postoperative period; 4 cases of abdominal aortic infection foci involving renal artery openings, 2 cases of early postoperative death; 4 cases with pleural effusion, 4 cases died in the early postoperative period; 2 cases of combined creatinine elevation, 2 cases of early postoperative death; 2 cases of postoperative infection of artificial blood vessels.Conclusions:Abdominal aortic endograft infection are aggressive. The risk of early death is increased in patients who are elderly, in poor general condition, with aortoenteric fistula or with pre-existing cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic and renal insufficiency, but surgery based on adequate anti-infective therapy remains an effective means of saving the patient′s life.

Objective:To explore the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in hippocampus of post-stroke depression (PSD) model rats and its effect on cell apoptosis and depressive-like behavior.Methods:Sixty SPF-grade male SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups (12 rats in each group): normal group, stroke group, depression group, PSD group and carbenoxolone(CBX) group. The stroke model was established by injection of endothelin-1.Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) combined with solitary rearing was used to establish a depression model. Rats in PSD group were given CUMS and raised alone on the seventh day of stroke modeling.Rats in CBX group were given intraperitoneal injection of CBX(20 mg/kg) on 14th day after PSD modeling. The depressive-like behavior of rats was evaluated by sugar water preference test and open field test. The expression of Cx43 mRNA in hippocampus of rats was detected by RT-PCR, the expression levels of Cx43, caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot, and the changes of apoptosis rate were detected by TUNEL staining. SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistical analysis, the behavioral data were analyzed by repeated measurement ANOVA, the remaining data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and the LSD- t test was used for further pairwise comparison. Results:(1)As for the preference rate of sugar water and the times of crossing the grid, the interaction effects between time and group were significant among the 5 groups( Finteraction=35.57, 111.43, both P<0.05). On the 28th day after operation, the preference rate of sugar water and the times of crossing grid in depression group and PSD group were lower than those in stroke group (all P<0.05), while the preference rate of sugar water and the times of crossing grid in CBX group were both lower than those in PSD group (both P<0.05). (2) The levels of Cx43 mRNA and Cx43 protein in the five groups were significantly different ( F=273.57, 64.56, both P<0.05). The levels of Cx43 mRNA and Cx43 protein in depression group ((0.59±0.05), (0.69±0.08)) and PSD group ((0.61±0.07), (0.63±0.12)) were lower than those in stroke group ((1.01±0.03), (1.05±0.08)) (all P<0.05). The levels of Cx43 mRNA and Cx43 protein in CBX group ((0.30±0.01), (0.37±0.09)) were lower than those in PSD group (both P<0.05). (3) The protein levels of caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax and the apoptosis rate of the five groups were significantly different ( F=102.40, 90.27, 47.42, 159.99, 115.21, all P<0.05). The levels of caspase-3, Bax protein, apoptosis rate in stroke group ((0.44±0.06), (0.54±0.07), (29.16±5.03)) and depression group ((0.45±0.07), (0.59±0.09), (27.00±4.93)) were higher than those in normal group ((0.21±0.08), (0.33±0.07), (4.83±3.18)) (all P<0.05), the levels of Bcl-2 protein and Bcl-2/Bax in stroke group ((0.80±0.04), (1.51±0.20)) and depression group ((0.60±0.09), (1.03±0.09)) were lower than those in normal group ((1.04±0.13), (3.14±0.38)) (all P<0.05).The levels of caspase-3, Bax protein and apoptosis rate in PSD group ((0.76±0.05), (0.84±0.02), (44.50±3.83)) were all higher than those in stroke group and depression group (all P<0.05), and the levels of Bcl-2 protein and Bcl-2/Bax in PSD group ((0.50±0.14), (0.59±0.17)) were lower than those in stroke group and depression group (both P<0.05). The levels of caspase-3 and Bax protein and the apoptosis rate in CBX group ((1.03±0.10), (1.02±0.05), (56.00±4.81)) were higher than those in PSD group (all P<0.05).The levels of Bcl-2 protein and Bcl-2/Bax in CBX group((0.26±0.08), (0.25±0.08)) were lower than those in PSD group (both P<0.05). Conclusion:The expression level of Cx43 in the hippocampus of PSD model rats is downregulated, which can promote cell apoptosis and exacerbate depressive behavior.

Objective:To investigate the current situation and organizational management policies of government procurement in public hospitals,and to improve the level of standardized management of government procurement.Methods:An electronic questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the current status of organization and administration of government procurement in different types and levels of public hospitals across the country.The current situation of the organizational structure,management system,working mode,supervision and evaluation,budget establishment,bidding and procurement,contract signing,acceptance process,payment management,and other aspects of government procurement management in public hospitals were analyzed.Results:A total of 216 valid questionnaires were collected from 216 public hospitals in 28 provinces,municipalities and autonomous regions across the country,including 165 general hospitals,37 specialized hospitals and 13 traditional Chinese medicine hospitals,accounting for 76.39％,17.13％and 6.02％respectively;among the hospital levels,there were 202 tertiary hospitals(accounting for 93.52％).Among the surveyed government procurement management institutions of public hospitals,there were 112,103,110 and 112 organizations at the four levels of procurement management committee,procurement management office,procurement center and business and administrative logistics department,accounting for 51.85％,47.69％,50.93％and 51.85％respectively.The quota standards for public bidding for government procurement in all hospitals were in line with the requirements of national laws and regulations.The approval of funds payment must conditions of each hospital complied with relevant requirements.In terms of management effects of risk prevention and control,the hospitals with very good,good,average and inadequate were 48,125,34 and 9 respectively,accounting for 22.22％,57.87％,15.74％and 4.17％.Conclusion:The organizational framework and management system of government procurement in public hospitals are becoming increasingly standardized,and there are certain differences in the work mode and process of government procurement in different hospitals,and the supervision and evaluation are relatively weak,which is worthy of attention and strengthened administration.

A 57-year-old male patient was admitted to Shanghai Huashan Hospital due to recurrent systemic sclerosis in May 2023. The patient presented with mild diarrhea (2-3 times per day) and was suspected of having concurrent infectious diarrhea. Fecal samples, after selective enrichment and isolation, identified a'non-A-F serogroup Salmonella′. Salmonella Michigan ST2065 was identified in the reference laboratory by serotyping, drug resistance phenotyping, whole genome sequencing and cross-referencing with the regional serotype database of Salmonella in China. Combined with drug resistance and virulence results, the strain was determined to exhibit a phenotype characterized by high drug resistance and low enterotoxin production. The patient was prescribed oral tigecycline for 7 days and was discharged with improved symptoms.

Brain science accelerates the study of intelligence and behavior, contributes fundamental insights into human cognition, and offers prospective treatments for brain disease. Faced with the challenges posed by imaging technologies and deep learning computational models, big data and high-performance computing (HPC) play essential roles in studying brain function, brain diseases, and large-scale brain models or connectomes. We review the driving forces behind big data and HPC methods applied to brain science, including deep learning, powerful data analysis capabilities, and computational performance solutions, each of which can be used to improve diagnostic accuracy and research output. This work reinforces predictions that big data and HPC will continue to improve brain science by making ultrahigh-performance analysis possible, by improving data standardization and sharing, and by providing new neuromorphic insights.