The hypoxic microenvironment and inflammatory state of residual tumors caused by insufficient radio-frequency ablation(iRFA)are major reasons for rapid tumor progression and pose challenges for immu-notherapy.We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)treated with RFA and observed that iRFA was associated with poor survival outcomes and progression-free survival.Using an orthotopic HCC mouse model and a colorectal liver metastasis model,we observed that treatment with melatonin after iRFA reduced tumor growth and metastasis and achieved the best out-comes when combined with anti-programmed death-ligand 1(anti-PD-L1)therapy.In mechanism,melatonin inhibited the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions,hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1 α,and PD-L1 in tumor cells after iRFA.Flow cytometry revealed that melatonin reduced the proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and increased the proportion of CD8+T cells.Transcriptomic analysis revealed an upregulation of immune-activated function-related genes in residual tumors.These findings demonstrated that melatonin can reverse hypoxia and iRFA-induced inflammation,thereby overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment(TME)and enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application value of transcatheter arterial methylene blue angiography in the localization of lower gastrointestinal arterial bleeding.Methods Ten patients with lower gastrointestinal arterial bleeding received interventional celiac artery angiography.After the bleeding responsible arteries were identified,a microcatheter was super-selectively placed in the bleeding responsible artery.During surgical procedure,the methylene blue solution was injected through the microcatheter to display the bleeding segment of the intestinal tract,providing precise localization of the bleeding intestinal segment for surgical resection.Results Transcatheter arterial methylene blue angiography could clearly display the bleeding segment of the intestinal tract.The bleeding segments of the intestinal tract in the 10 patients were quickly and accurately removed.After surgery,the gastrointestinal bleeding stopped,and no surgery-related complications occurred.Conclusion Transcatheter arterial methylene blue angiography can accurately detect the arterial bleeding segment of the lower gastrointestinal tract,which provides precise localization for quickly removing the bleeding segment of intestinal tract,therefor,this technique is worthy of widespread clinical application.(J Intervent Radiol,2023,32:1230-1232)

Objective:To compare the image quality of turbo gradient and spin echo-BLADE diffusion weighted imaging (TGSE-BLADE-DWI) with that of readout segmentation of long variable echo-trains (RESOLVE) at the sellar region.Methods:From September 15 th, 2019 to February 15 th, 2020, 38 patients with suspected sellar abnormalities were enrolled prospectively to perform RESOLVE and TGSE-BLADE-DWI at a 3.0 T MR scanner in Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Totally, 32 patients were identified with sellar lesions. The DWI images were evaluated subjectively and objectively. Two experienced radiologists scored images of the two DWI methods for anatomical structures (including the internal carotid arteries, optic chiasm, pituitary stalk and pituitary gland), lesion conspicuity, susceptibility artifacts, geometric distortions and overall image quality using a five-point scale respectively. Objective parameters on the images of the two DWI methods were analyzed, including lesion size, signal to noise ratio (SNR) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The consistency of subjective scores of two radiologists was tested by Kappa test. Paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, Kappa statistics were used for statistical evaluation. Results:TGSE-BLADE-DWI performed significantly better than RESOLVE in depicting the sellar anatomical structures, lesion conspicuity, geometric distortion and overall image quality (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in SNR, maximum longitudinal diameter of lesions and ADC of lesions between the two DWI methods(all P>0.05). The maximum transverse diameter measured by TGSE-BLADE-DWI was significantly smaller than that of RESOLVE ( Z=3.31, P=0.001). Conclusions:Compared with RESOLVE, TGSE-BLADE-DWI is superior in depicting the anatomical structures, decreasing susceptibility artifacts and geometric distortions at the sellar region and effectively improves the image quality of DWI, which has great value in clinical applications.

Objective:To explore the application value of CT pulmonary function imaging in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the convalescent phase.Methods:The COVID-19 patients who were clinically cured and discharged from Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were prospectively collected from January to April 2020. Clinical pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and CT pulmonary function imaging were performed 3 months after discharge. The Philips IntelliSpace Portal image post-processing workstation was used to obtain the paired inspiratory-expiratory CT quantitative indexes of the whole lung, left lung, right lung and five lobes. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether residual lesions remain in inspiratory CT images: non-residual lesion group and residual lesion group. The chi-square test was used to compare the differences in the PFT results between groups; the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in PFT indexes [forced expiratory volume in the first second as percentage of predicted value (FEV 1%), FEV 1/forced vital capacity (FEV 1/FVC), total lung capacity as percentage of predicted value (TLC%), FVC%] and the differences in quantitative CT indexes [lung volume (LV), mean lung density (MLD), volume change in inspiratory phase and expiratory phase (?LV)] between groups. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between CT pulmonary function imaging and PFT indexes of convalescent COVID-19 patients. Results:Of the 90 patients with COVID-19, 35 were males and 55 were females; 45 were included in the non-residual lesion group and 45 were included in the residual lesion group. Fifty-three patients had clinical pulmonary dysfunction 3 months after discharge, including 22 patients in the non-residual lesion group and 31 patients in the residual lesion group. In patients with residual disease, left lower lobe and right lower lobe LV, left lower lobe and right lower lobe ?LV in the inspiratory and expiratory phase were smaller than those without residual disease; whole lung, left lung, right lung, left upper lobe, left lower lobe and right lower lobe MLD in the inspiratory phase and left lower lobe and right lower lobe MLD in the expiratory phase were greater than those without residual disease ( P<0.05). Since there was no significant difference in FEV 1/FVC and FVC% between residual and non-residual lesion groups ( P>0.05), FEV 1/FVC and FVC% of two groups were combined. Multiple linear regression analysis showed FEV 1/FVC=91.765-0.016×LV in-right middle lobe+0.014×MLD ex-left lower lobe ( R2=0.200, P<0.001), FVC%=-184.122-0.358×MLD in-right lung-0.024×?LV left upper lobe ( R2=0.261, P<0.001). There was significant difference in TLC% between residual and non-residual lesion groups ( P<0.05), so multiple linear regression analysis was performed both in the two groups. In the non-residual lesion group, TLC%=80.645+0.031×LV ex-right lower lobe ( R2=0.132, P<0.001); In the residual lesion group, TLC%=-110.237-0.163×MLD in-right upper lobe-0.098×MLD ex-left upper lobe -0.025×LV ex-right lower lobe ( R2=0.473, P<0.001). Conclusion:CT pulmonary function imaging can quantitatively analyze the whole lung, unilateral lung and lobulated lung, thus reflecting the regional pulmonary function, providing more valuable diagnostic information for the assessment of pulmonary function in convalescent patients with COVID-19.

Enteral nutrition plays an irreplaceable role in the nutritional treatment of critically ill patients. In order to help clinical medical staff to manage the common complications during the implementations of enteral nutrition for critically ill patients, the consensus writing team carried out literature retrieval, literature quality evaluation, evidence synthesis. Several topics such as diarrhea, aspiration, high gastric residual volume, abdominal distension, etc. were assessed by evidence-based methodology and Delphi method. After two rounds of expert investigations, Expert consensus on prevention and management of enteral nutrition therapy complications for critically ill patients in China (2021 edition) developed, and provided guidance for clinical medical staff.

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer has attracted great attention in China and foreign countries and great progress has been achieved, but ICI monotherapy cannot bring benefits to most patients with liver cancer. Therefore, it is a new trend to explore the combination of ICI with other treatment methods. This article summarizes the advances in ICI combination therapy for unresectable liver cancer in China and foreign countries, including ICI combined with molecular targeted therapy, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor combined with CTLA-4 inhibitor, and ICI combined with local therapy. The results show that for patients with unresectable liver cancer, ICI combined with other treatment methods has a significantly better effect than ICI monotherapy; however, further studies are needed to explore which treatment method combined with ICI can bring the greatest benefits to patients.

Objective:To explore the characteristics and short-term changes of high resolution CT (HRCT) in subclinical stage of COVID-19.Methods:The HRCT images of 17 COVID-19 patients in subclinical stage were analyzed retrospectively in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital from January 15 to 31, 2020. There were 4 males and 13 females, age ranged from 25.0 to 51.0 (39.8±7.5) years, who were closely contacted with other COVID-19 patients. The follow-up CT examination was performed within 3 to 6 days after the initial CT examination in all patients. Six patients were treated using anti-virus, anti-inflammation and symptomatic therapy, while the other 11 patients were untreated. The subclinical CT findings and short-term follow-up were analyzed, and the CT changes of short-term follow-up were summarized.Results:The lesions of 17 COVID-19 patients were mainly located at the lower lobes of bilateral lungs (at the left lower lobe in 9 cases and at the right lower lobe in 10 cases in the subclinical stage, at the left lower lobe in 9 cases and at the right lower lobe in 11 cases in the short-term follow-up). The number of involved lung segments increased from 46 in the subclinical stage to 90 in the short-term follow-up. In the subclinical stage, the multiple lesions were found in 13 cases, while in the short-term follow-up, the number of cases with multiple lesions decreased by 7, however the cases with focal lesions increased by 6 and diffuse lesions by 4. The lesions were mainly distributed under the pleura (13 cases) or along the bronchovascular bundle(10 cases). In the short-term follow-up, the lesion in 1 case expanded from the subpleural area to neighbouring bronchovascular bundle. There were 3 main types of the lesions, including ground glass nodule, ground glass opacity and crazy-paving pattern. In the subclinical stage and short-term follow-up, the ground glass opacities were seen in all the 17 cases. In the short-term follow-up, the number of cases with ground glass nodules decreased by 4 and crazy-paving pattern increased by 4. In 6 patients after treatment, the multiple ground glass nodules became single one in 3 cases, and in other 3 cases the multiple ground glass opacities were getting smaller. However, the scope of lesions in 11 patients without treatment enlarged.Conclusion:The HRCT features of the COVID-19 in subcilincal stage have some charicteristics, such as small ground glass nodule, ground glass opacity along the subpleural area or along the bronchovascular bundle, and the great changes can be seen in the short-term follow-up.

Objective:To investigate the application value of third-generation dual-source CT(3-G DSCT) low-dose scan mode combined with iterative reconstruction technology in the screening of COVID-19 and to evaluate the radiation dose.Methods:One hundred and twenty patients suspected of COVID-19 from December 2019 to February 2020 were retrospectively analysed and randomly divided into two groups (test group and conventional group, 60 patients in each). The parameters for test group included 3-G DSCT, Turbo Flash scan mode, CARE kV, with reference 90 kV, pitch 2.0, and ADMIRE algorithm, while those parameters for conventional group included the 128-slice CT, conventional spiral scan mode, 120 kV, pitch 1.2, and FBP algorithm. The CT values of aorta, spinal posterior muscle, and subcutaneous fat, the aortic noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast noise ratio (CNR) were compared to evaluate the image quality between two groups. Two experienced doctors scored the image quality using a double-blind method, and compared the CT dose index volume (CTDI vol), dose-length product (DLP), and effective dose ( E) of the two groups. Results:The CT value of the aorta and spinal posterior muscle and the aortic SNR in the test group were (45.38±4.77), (53.41±8.44) HU, and 2.82±0.59, and significantly higher than those in the conventional group [(39.68±6.26), (42.66±6.32) HU, 2.58±0.61, t=5.608, 7.897, 2.162, P<0.05]. The aortic noise, CNR and subjective scores between the two groups had no significant difference( P>0.05). The CTDI vol, DLP, and E in the test group were (3.09±1.02) mGy, (107.57±32.81) mGy·cm, (1.51±0.46) mSv, significantly lower than those in the conventional group [(7.00±1.80) mGy, (261.65±73.93) mGy·cm, (3.66±1.03) mSv; t=-14.680, -14.756, -14.756, P<0.05]. Conclusions:In the screening of COVID-19, using low-dose scanning mode of 3-G DSCT combined with iterative reconstruction technology would provide diagnostic quality images and meanwhile effectively reduce the radiation dose and improve the SNR of the image.

Objective:To explore a low dose CT scanning method on novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia based on infection prevention and control.Methods:A total of 140 patients with confirmed novel coronavirus pneumonia in Xiehe hospital from January 20, 2020 to February 28, 2020 were undertaken CT scan and divided into low dose group and conventional dose group. The patients in low dose group(120 kV, 31 mAs) consisted of mild type(51), severe type(15) and critically ill type(4); and those in conventional dose group(120 kv, adaptive milliampere second) consisted of mild type(48), severe type(17) and critically ill type(5). The effective radiation dose, SNR and CNR of CT scan were compared between two groups. A senior and a middle radiologist made the image subjective quality scores, respectively.Results:The effective dose in low dose group was lower than that of conventional dose group( t=-48.343, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in SNR and CNR between two groups( P>0.05). For severe and critically ill patients, the score in low dose group was significantly lower than that in conventional dose group( t=-2.781, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in scores between two groups for mild patients( P>0.05). Conclusions:Low-dose CT scanning could meet the image quality needs for patients with COVID-19 and meanwhile significantly reduce the radiation dose.

Since February 9th, 2020, the mobile CT in Jianghan mobile cabin hospital had begun to be used for scanning patients with COVID-19.The mobile CT has played an irreplaceable role in clinical diagnosis with its unique advantages. During CT scanning, the technicians should not only ensure that the patients receive the radiation dose as low as possible, but also be aware of the importance of the infection prevention and control. Meanwhile, we need concern the technicians about the psychological problems and should take effective action when they occured.