Objective To explore the imaging features, clinical outcome, and prognosis of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) in patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Methods A retrospective study of 82 patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma who have IPNs. The clinical characteristics, imaging features of IPN, and survival of patients were analyzed with statistical software. Results The IPN size of 82 patients was 6.453±0.864 mm. IPN diameter, shape, density, and nodule discovery interval may be CT imaging features related to malignancy tendency. Age (HR=1.047, 95%CI: 1.007-1.088) and interval between each nodule discovery (HR=3.194, 95%CI: 1.052-9.694) are independent factors that affect the survival of patients with malignant IPN. Conclusion The imaging features of chest CT may provide important guidance for determining the nature and survival prognosis of benign and malignant nodules.

BACKGROUND:The anterior cruciate ligament has unique nonlinear mechanical properties under a complex physiological loading environment.Elastin is an important contributor to the mechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament,but its mechanical response to the anterior cruciate ligament under axial tension is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To quantitatively analyze the effect of elastin on the tensile mechanical response of the anterior cruciate ligament. METHODS:Elastase solution and control buffer were prepared.The porcine anterior cruciate ligament samples were prepared into small-size samples and randomly soaked in 0,0.1,1.0,2.0,5.0,and 10.0 U/mL elastase solution for 6 hours,and other small samples of the same size were soaked in 2 U/mL elastase solution for 0,1,3,6,9,and 12 hours.To determine suitable soaking conditions for elastin-targeted enzymes and verify the digestive effect,histological staining was used to compare the effects of enzyme treatment on tissue structure and composition.The ligament samples were randomly divided into elastase-treated group and PBS group,and immersed in 2 U/mL elastase solution and PBS buffer for 6 hours,respectively.A mechanical tensile test was performed before and after immersion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The biochemical results showed that being treated in 2 U/mL elastase solution for 6 hours could reduce the elastin content by 31.1%,and had no significant effect on other mechanical-related components in the tissue.(2)The histological results showed that elastase was able to penetrate the tissue,and the loose degree of tissue increased after treatment.(3)In the mechanical results before and after treatment,the mechanical properties of the PBS group decreased significantly,only the low-tension elastic modulus increased significantly and the initial length increased significantly in the elastase-treated group.(4)The intergroup comparison results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in pre-treatment,but the low-tension elastic modulus,initial slopes,saturated slopes,and initial length of the elastase-treated group after treatment were significantly higher than those in the PBS group.(5)These results suggest that elastin degradation significantly affects the biomechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament and further complements our understanding of the structure-function relationship of the anterior cruciate ligament.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential therapeutic effect of the sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore tablet "Xianzhi No.3" from the perspective of immunomodulation and cardioprotection. METHODS Chemical components of the sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore tablet "Xianzhi No.3" were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and colorimetric methods. Examined tablet’s effects on zebrafish models of macrophage reduction, heart failure, H2O2-induced oxidative stress in myocardial and endothelial cells, and a microglial inflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide. Immune regulation and cardioprotective effects were evaluated through multiple indicators, including macrophage formation and phagocytosis abilities, anti-neuroinflammation ability, cardiac systolic and diastolic functions, and anti-oxidative stress injury ability in myocardial and endothelial cells. RESULTS The sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore tablet "Xianzhi No.3" improved macrophage formation and phagocytosis, cardiac systolic and diastolic functions, reduced neuroinflammation, and alleviated oxidative stress in myocardial and endothelial cells, resulting in immunomodulatory and cardioprotective effects. CONCLUSION The sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore tablet "Xianzhi No.3" maybe a potential therapeutic agent for regulating the immune system and protecting cardiac function.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of Enterprise stenting in the treatment of symptomatic middle cerebral artery atherosclerotic stenosis.Methods:Patients with symptomatic middle cerebral artery atherosclerotic stenosis underwent Enterprise stenting in the Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively included. The degree of residual stenosis, periprocedural complications, in-stent restenosis and stroke recurrence during follow-up were evaluated.Results:A total of 75 patients were enrolled, including 55 males (73.3%), aged 58±9.7 years. The last preprocedural symptom was stroke in 65 cases (86.7%) and transient ischemic attack in 10 cases (13.3%). Sixty-seven patients (89.3%) had the M1 segment stenosis of the middle cerebral artery, and 8 (10.7%) had the M2 segment stenosis. The degree of stenosis was 88.4%±8.90%. The median time from the last onset to stenting was 18 days (interquartile range, 13-24 days). The procedural success rate was 100%, and the residual stenosis degree was 17.3%±6.1%. Four patients (5.3%) experienced periprocedural complications, including three ischemic strokes and one symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Sixty-one patients (81.3%) completed 3- to 12-month follow-up, of which 7 patients (11.5%) had in-stent restenosis and 2 (3.3%) had recurrent ischemic stroke.Conclusion:Enterprise stenting may be safe and effective in the treatment of symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis.

Objective To evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of upper arm vein approach in the implantation of totally implantable venous access port(TIVAP)under the guidance of ultrasound combined with DSA.Methods The clinical data of 1 546 patients with malignant tumors,who received TIVAP implantation via upper arm vein access under the guidance of ultrasound combined with DSA at the Affiliated Renji Hospital,School of Medicine of Shanghai Jiao Tong University of China between January 2020 and January 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.The implantation success rate,single-puncturing success rate,operation time,and complications were compared between the PICC catheterization room and the DSA operating room.Results The technical success rate in the 1546 patients was 100％,with a single-puncturing success rate of 99.48％.In 766 patients the TIVAP implantation was performed in the PICC catheterization room(PICC group),and in 780 patients the TIVAP implantation was carried out in the DSA operating room(DSA group).The mean operation time in the DSA group was(20.1±1.3)min,which was obviously shorter than(25.4±1.9)min in the PICC group,and the incidence of primary catheter misplacement in the DSA group was 0％,which was remarkably lower than 0.78％in the PICC group(P＜0.05).No statistically significant differences in the incidences of complications,including infection,thrombosis,upper limb movement disorder,catheter occlusion,exposure of infusion port body,and overturn of infusion port body,existed between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided TIVAP via upper arm vein approach is a safe and effective infusion route for patients with malignancy receiving chemotherapy.The combination use of ultrasound guidance and intraoperative DSA guidance can reduce the operation time as well as the incidence of operation-related complications.

Objective To investigate the characteristics and clinicopathology of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog Bl(BRAF)V600E mutations in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)in Air Force flight personnel.Methods Data of cases and test results of BRAF V600E mutation were collected from Air Force aviators pathologically diagnosed with PTC.A univariate analysis of the relationship between BRAF V600E mutations and clinicopathologic features was performed.Results The overall rate of BRAF V600E mutations among 55 PTC flight crew members was 70.91％.The univariate analysis showed that the number of lymph node metastases in the BRAF V600E mutated group was larger than in the BRAF V600E unmutated group,and the proportion of BRAF V600E mutations in flight crews at intermediate risk of recurrence was higher than that in those at low risk of recurrence(P＜0.05).The presence or absence of BRAF V600E mutations did not affect the results of medical evaluation of PTC in flight personnel.Conclusion The rate of PTC BRAF V600E mutations in Air Force flight crews is similar to that of the general Chinese population.BRAF V600E mutations are associated with an increased number of lymph node metastases and risk of recurrence,and follow-up is recommended for flight personnel with PTC,especially those with BRAF V600E mutations.

Ankle joint cartilage injuries could lead to severe pain and limited joint activity,and early diagnosis of ankle joint cartilage injury is particularly important.3D-MR sequences has good diagnostic efficiency for ankle joint cartilage injuries.The research progresses of 3D-MRI in diagnosing ankle cartilage injuries were reviewed in this article.

Objective:To analyze the expression level of hepcidin in urine of patients with type 2 diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in different stages and its relationship with DKD and related indicators.Methods:From June 2022 to December 2023, 139 inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Department of Endocrinology, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Health Medical College were selected as the research objects. The stage of DKD was judged by urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR): UACR <30 mg/g in stage A1, UACR ≥30 mg/g~≤300 mg/g in stage A2. DKD in stage A3 was UACR >300 mg/g. According to the stage of DKD, there were 50 patients with stage A1 (group A1), 47 patients with stage A2 (group A2), and 42 patients with stage A3 (group A3). Urinary hepcidin was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured and compared. The correlation between urinary hepcidin and other markers, the risk factors of DKD and the evaluation of diagnostic value were analyzed. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as xˉ± s, mean comparison among the three groups, if the variance was homogeneous, the analysis of variance test was used; if the variance was not homogeneous, the Welch test was used; the proportion or rate of enumeration data among the groups was tested by χ2 test; Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis; binary Logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis; The value of urinary hepcidin in the diagnosis of DKD was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve. Results:Urinary hepcidin was (5.3±1.0) μg/L in group A1, (7.7±2.5) μg/L in group A2, and (10.1±2.7) μg/L in group A3. There was significant difference among the three groups ( F=58.92， P<0.001), and urinary hepcidin increased with the severity of DKD; Urinary Hepcidin was related to UACR ( R=0.684, P<0.001), serum creatinine ( R=0.590, P<0.001), course of disease ( R=0.485, P<0.001), triglyceride ( R=0.264, P=0.002), age ( R=0.235, P<0.001), P=0.005), total cholesterol ( R=0.224, P=0.008), systolic pressure ( R=0.194, P=0.022), glomerular filtration rate ( R=-0.540, P<0.001) and BMI ( R=-0.175, P=0.040); There was no correlation with fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, ALT and diastolic blood pressure (all P>0.05). Secondly, the increase of urinary hepcidin level was a risk factor for DKD by binary Logistic regression analysis ( OR=4.147,95% CI: 2.154-7.984, P<0.001). Finally, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off point of urinary hepcidin was 6.35 μg/L, with a sensitivity of 0.831 and a specificity of 0.880. Conclusion:Urinary hepcidin increases with the severity of DKD, which may be a biomarker for early diagnosis of DKD.

Humans ; Consensus ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy* ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/therapy*

Objective:To explore the incidence, clinical characteristics, imaging features, clinical outcome and prognosis of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) in patients with osteosarcoma.Methods:A total of 69 patients of osteosarcoma with IPN in lung treated in the Bone tumor Center of Eastern Theater General Hospital from January 2011 to January 2021 were collected retrospectively, there were 47 males and 22 females, with a median age of 19 years old (range 7-60 years old). The clinical characteristics including disease-free interval, the chemotherapy response, with recurrence/non-pulmonary, IPN presence before / during / after chemotherapy and imaging features of IPN including number of IPN, location of IPN, density of IPN, boundary clarity of IPN and outcome. The patients were divided into the metastasis pulmonary nodules group and the benign nodules group according to the final outcome of IPN. Further, χ 2 test was performed for comparison of the clinical and imaging characteristics between the two groups. The survival of patients was counted and the correlation between single factor and survival was compared by Kaplan-Meier test, and multivariate survival analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results:Sixty-nine cases occurred IPN in 211 patients with osteosarcoma, with an incidence of 32.7%. Of the 69 patients, 45 patients (65.2%) with IPN were diagnosed as metastases, and 24 patients (34.8%) with IPN were diagnosed as benign nodules. Follow-up length ranged from 1 to 124 months, with the median follow up time 43 months. To the end of follow-up, 41 patients (59.4%) remained alive and 28 patients (40.6%) had died. The median survival time was 41.0 (20.0, 65.0) months and the median survival time after diagnosis of IPN was 25.0 (10.0, 43.0) months. There were significant differences in lung nodule density ( P<0.001), boundary ( P=0.002), history of recurrence/extra-pulmonary metastasis ( P=0.023) and chemotherapeutic effect ( P<0.001) between the metastasis pulmonary nodules group and the benign nodules group. Multivariate survival analysis showed that chemotherapeutic effect was an independent factor affecting the overall survival of patients [ HR=0.048, 95% CI (0.01, 0.26)]. Boundary definition [ HR=0.12, 95% CI (0.02, 0.93)] and chemotherapeutic effect [ HR=0.06, 95% CI (0.01, 0.29)] were independent factors influencing survival after diagnosis of IPN. Conclusion:Osteosarcoma patients with IPN have a poor prognosis. The poor effect of chemotherapy is an independent risk factor for the overall survival time of those patients and the survival time after diagnosis of IPN. The boundary definition of IPN is an independent risk factor for the survival time after diagnosis of IPN.