Objective To investigate the prediction of diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI)and intra voxel incoherent motion(IVIM)imaging global histogram parameters for the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)in patients diagnosed with breast invasive ductal carcinoma.Methods A total of 69 patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma confirmed by penetration pathology were retrospectively selected.Prior to undergoing NAC,all patients underwent sequential scans including MR conventional(T1WI,T2WI),dynamic contrast enhancement(DCE),DKI,and IVIM.After surgery,the patients were divided into significant group(40 patients)and non-significant group(29 patients)based on the efficacy of NAC,which was evaluated using the Miller-Payne(MP)grading method criteria.The differences in global histogram parameters of DKI[mean diffusivity(MD),mean kurtosis(MK)]and IVIM(D value,f value,D*value)between the significant group and the non-significant group were compared by the two-independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test.In addition,the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted,and Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and correlation of DKI and IVIM global histogram parameters in predicting NAC efficacy.The DeLong test was used to compare whether there was statistical significance in area under the curve(AUC)differences among histogram parameters.Results The DKI MD value(90th percentile,mean,median,maximum,range,root mean square),IVIM D value(mean,range,root mean square,median)and D*value(entropy,90th percentile)of patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma in the significant group with efficacy of NAC were higher than those in the non-significant group,while the DKI MK value(mean and median)were lower than those in the non-significant group,and all the differences mentioned above were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The AUC,sensitivity and specificity of DKI combined with IVIM global histogram parameters were the highest,which were 0.816,72.41％and 90.00％,respectively.MD value,D value and D*value were negatively correlated with the efficacy of NAC in breast invasive ductal carcinoma.MK value was positively correlated with NAC efficacy significance.Conclusion DKI combined with IVIM global histogram parameters can effectively predict the efficacy of NAC in patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma and provide effective value for clinical NAC preoperative efficacy evaluation.

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 point injection on pain severity in patients with discogenic low back pain and to analyze its potential mechanisms. Methods:A total of 96 patients with discogenic low back pain were randomly divided into two groups.The control group received acupuncture treatment,while the combined group received vitamin B12 point injection in addition to the identical acupuncture treatment in the control group.Both groups were treated for 2 weeks.The visual analog scale(VAS)and Oswestry disability index(ODI)scores were compared before treatment,after 1 week of treatment,and after 2 weeks of treatment.The levels of such serum inflammatory factors as tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin(IL)-6,serum beta-endorphin(β-EP),and prostaglandin(PG)E2 were compared before and after treatment.Adverse reactions and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups after treatment. Results:The total effective rate in the combined group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The VAS and ODI scores in the combined group after 1 week and 2 weeks of treatment were lower than those in the control group at the same time point(P<0.05).The levels of TNF-α,IL-6,and PGE2 in the combined group were lower than those in the control group after treatment(P<0.05),while the level of β-EP was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in the overall incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture combined with vitamin B12 point injection can alleviate pain and promote functional recovery in patients with discogenic low back pain;reducing the levels of TNF-α,IL-6,and PGE2 and increasing the level of β-EP may be part of the mechanism of the therapy.

[Abstract] Objective To study the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) / stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) pathway in high altitude hypoxia preconditioning in rat. Methods Seventy-six adult male SD rats, which through fed in low-pressure oxygen chamber (altitude 5000 m) and Xining (altitude 2260 m) to establish the rat model of hypoxia preconditioning. Rats randomly divided into 6 groups: control group (Ctrl), high altitude hypoxic preconditioning 1 day group (HHP-1d), high altitude hypoxic preconditioning 4 days group (HHP-4d), high altitude hypoxic preconditioning 15 days group (HHP-15d), high altitude hypoxic preconditioning 30 days group (HHP-30d), medium altitude hypoxic preconditioning group (MHP). 7. 0 T small animal MRI was used to observe the intracranial structure, diameter of basilar artery and cerebral blood flow in the hippocampus and brainstem regions by the sequences of T2 weighted images (T2WI) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) in the groups of Ctrl, HHP-4d, HHP-30d and MHP. In each group, blood routine was tested, the concentrations of HIF-1α, SDF-1 in serum, platelet activating factor (PAF)and P-selectin (SELP) in plasma were detected by the method of ELISA. Results In the hypoxia preconditioning groups, intracranial structure and diameter of basilar artery had no significant difference, while cerebral blood flow in the regions of brainstem and hippocampus increased significantly (P<0. 05). Meanwhile, red blood cell and white blood cell increased significantly, while platelet decreased significantly in the groups of hypoxia preconditioning (P<0. 05). Red blood cell and platelet in MHP group were closer to Ctrl group. The concentrations of HIF-1α and SDF-1 (except HHP-1d group) increased significantly in hypoxia preconditioning groups (P<0. 05).The concentrations of PAF and SELP increased significantly in HHP-1d and HHP-15d groups. The concentration of PAF decreased significantly in the HHP-4d and HHP-30d groups, and SELP decreased significantly in HHP-4d group (P<0. 05). Conclusion Hypoxia preconditioning can increase oxygen storage and immune defense capacity, improve brain reserve capacity and play the effect of brain protection through HIF-1α/ SDF-1 pathway. The best effect preconditioning was feed at medium altitude (altitude 2260 m) for 30 days.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between trace elements in synovial fluid and cartilage and severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Patients with KOA who underwent knee arthrocentesis or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were recruited based on inclusion criteria between June 2021 and December 2021. Synovial fluid samples were obtained during knee arthrocentesis and TKA, and participants were divided into the mild group (grading Ⅰ/Ⅱ) and the severe group (grading Ⅲ/Ⅳ) according to the Kellgren-Lawrence grading (K-L grading). Cartilage samples with different degrees of wear were collected during the TKA from the same patient and were divided into mild wear (0-1 point) and severe wear (2-4 points) groups based on the Pelletier score. The contents of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) in synovial fluid and cartilage were evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the differences between groups were compared. RESULTS: A total of 33 synovial fluid samples were collected, including 19 specimens from 14 patients who underwent knee arthrocentesis of mild group, with 5 bilateral sides knee arthrocentesis in them, and 14 specimens from 14 TKA patients of severe group. The patients were significantly younger in the mild group than in the severe group ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in gender or body mass index between the two groups ( P>0.05). Nineteen pairs of cartilage samples with mild and severe wear were collected from severe KOA patients (K-L grading Ⅲ and Ⅳ), including 9 males and 10 females, with an average age of 70.4 years (range, 58-80 years). The body mass index ranged from 21.2 to 30.7 kg/m ², with an average of 25.6 kg/m ². The content of Zn in synovial fluid and cartilage from KOA patients was the highest, followed by Cu, and Mn was the lowest. The Cu content in synovial fluid was significantly higher in the severe group than in the mild group ( P<0.05), and in the severe wear group than in the mild wear group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Zn and Mn content between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION The Cu content increases with the severity of cartilage wear in patients with KOA.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery* ; Synovial Fluid ; Trace Elements ; Knee Joint/surgery* ; Cartilage, Articular ; Zinc

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of thymus in patients with COVID-19, and to analyze the CT features and dynamic changes of thymus.Methods:Data of 241 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted to Chongqing Three Gorges Central Hospital from Jan. to Mar. 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and 242 consecutive subjects were selected as the control group from Nov. to Dec. 2019. The thymus classification, size, and average CT values between COVID-19 patients and the control group were compared, as well as those among different clinical types for COVID-19 patients, before and after treatment, were analyzed.Results:① The attenuation of the thymus: 64.7% (156/241) complete fatty replacement thymus, 17.8% (43/241) predominantly fatty thymus, 11.2% (27/241) approximately one-half fatty and one-half soft-tissue-attenuation thymus, and 6.2% (15/241) predominantly soft-tissue thymus in COVID-19 patients were found. 48.3% (117/242) complete fatty replacement thymus, 25.6% (62/242) predominantly fatty thymus, 10.3% (25/242) approximately one-half fatty and one-half soft-tissue-attenuation thymus, and 15.7% (38/242) predominantly soft-tissue thymus were found in the control group. Complete fatty replacement thymus was an independent factor affecting COVID-19 in 40 to 59 years old patients ( OR=3.071, P=0.000) . The rate of complete fatty replacement thymus: severe or critical type > common type > mild type. ② Size: There was no statistical difference of the thymus size between COVID-19 patients and the control group ( P>0.05) , no statistical difference among the mild type, common type and severe or critical type ( P>0.05) , no statistical difference between before and after treatment ( P>0.05) , and there was no correlation with treatment duration ( r=0.047, r=0.071) . ③ Density: There was no statistical difference of the CT value of thymus between COVID-19 patients and the control group ( P>0.05) , no statistical difference among the mild, common and severe type ( P>0.05) . One patient had a 17 HU increase in thymus density after treatment, but there was no statistical difference in 78 patients in thymus CT values between before and after treatment ( P>0.05) , and there was no correlation with treatment duration (r=0.013) . Conclusions:COVID-19 patients have a high rate of complete fatty replacement thymus. And the heavier the clinical classification, the higher the rate of complete fatty replacement thymus. Complete fatty replacement thymus is a risk factor for COVID-19 patients in 40 to 59 years old.

We reported a women with omithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency who delivered a healthy boy after two pregnancies with adverse outcome with the help of a multidiscipline team.The woman was admitted to Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine with an acute prenatal hyperammonemic episode at 28 gestational weeks of her first pregnancy in 2013 and was diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.Her hyperammonemic complications were controlled under a well-planned multidisciplinary management including a low-protein diet and appropriate medications assisting nitrogen removal.A boy was delivered by cesarean section at 32 weeks of gestation but died three days later.Mutation analysis revealed a hemizygous c.583G＞A (G195R) mutation in the neonatal omithine carbamyltransferase gene and his mother was a heterozygous carrier with the same mutation.Two years later in 2015,the patient was pregnant spontaneously.However,she received an induced abortion at 21 weeks of gestation because amniocentesis and DNA analysis showed that the male fetus had the same omithine transcarbamylase gene mutation.The index pregnancy was assisted by in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer and preimplantation genetic diagnosis in 2017 and the woman delivered a healthy boy with the management ofa multidisciplinary team.

Objective Toexplorethecorrelationbetween MRIcharacteristicsandaxillarylymphnode metastasisofmass-type breastcancer.Methods MRIcharacteristicsandpathologicalresultsofpostoperativeaxillarylymphnode metastasisin187cases withmass-typebreastcancerwereanalyzedretrospectively.Accordingtothenumberoflymphnodemetastases,allofthepatients weredividedintothefourgroups:pN0,pN1,pN2andpN3.Thecorrelationbetween MRIsignsand N pathologicalstagesineach groupwereanalyzed.Results Therewere108casesinpN0group,33casesinpN1group,22casesinpN2groupand24casesinpN3 groupI.nthedifferentgroups,therewere15,5,1and1casewithroundmassrespectively;8,1,1and0casewithlobularmasserespectively;85, 27,20and23caseswithirregularmasserespectively.Theshapeswerenotsignificantlydifferentamongthedifferentgroups(P>0.05)I.nthe differentgroups,therewere7,0,1and0casewithclearmarginrespectively;69,14,7and8caseswithirregularmarginrespectively;32,19,14and16caseswithspiculatedmarginrespectively.Themarginsweresignificantlydifferentamongthedifferentgroups(P<0.05)I.nthe differentgroups,therewere55,16,14and18caseswithheterogenousenhancementrespectively;43,14,5and6caseswithringenhancement respectively;3,1,1and0casewithcentralenhancementrespectively;7,2,2and0casewithseptumenhancement.Theenhancement patternswerenotsignificantlydifferentamongthedifferentgroups (P>0.05).ThenumbersofthemasswithtypeⅠ,ⅡandⅢtime-signalcurvesandtheADCvalueswerenotsignificantlydifferentamongthedifferentgroups(P>0.05).Conclusion MRIfeaturesof mass-typebreastcancershavelimitedvalueindeterminingaxillarylymphnodemetastasis.However,thespiculatedmarginofmassis valuableindeterminingaxillarylymphnodemetastasis.

Objective To describe the MSCT manifestations of different pathological grading of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm(GEP-NEN)and to improve the understanding of CT characteristics of this disease.Methods MSCT images and pathological results of 38 GEP-NEN proved by surgical pathology were analyzed retrospectively in our hospital.All of the tumors were graded as G1 to G3.Measured respectively the CT value of the same location of each tumor in the noncontrast enhanced phase, arterial and venous phase.And divided them into mild,moderate and obvious.Statistically analyzed the number of tumors with different degree of enhancement.Results In arterial and venous phase of G1 group,the number of mild enhancement was respectively 3 and 0 case, the number of moderate enhancement was respectively 6 and 8 cases,and the number of obvious enhancement was respectively 7 and 8 cases.In arterial and venous phase of G2 group,the number of mild enhancement was respectively 2 and 0 case,the number of moderate enhancement was respectively 4 and 6 cases,and the number of obvious enhancement was respectively 4 and 4 cases.In arterial and venous phase of G3 group,the number of mild enhancement was respectively 9 and 4 cases,the number of moderate enhancement was respectively 3 and 8 cases,and the number of obvious enhancement was respectively 0 and 0 case.Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was performed for the number of tumor enhancement,the result was P<0.05.Conclusion MSCT multi-phase enhancement is valuable in judging the pathological grade of GEP-NEN.Arterial phase usually shows moderate to obvious enhancement in G1 group.The enhancement of tumors with higher grade shows a trend of decrease in arterial phase,while shows mild to moderate enhancement in venous phase.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the onset of cerebral infarction in anterior and posterior circulation and the "three high" risk factors in Guangzhou communities. Methods From Jan. 2014 to Jan.2016,367 patients from Guangzhou communities were diagnosed with new cerebral infarction by head diffu-sion weighted imaging(DWI).The data were divided into two groups of anterior and posterior circulation,and uni-variate and multivariate methods were used to analyze the relationship between the "three high" and other risk factors and the onset of cerebral infarction in anterior and posterior circulation.The data of anterior circulation cere-bral infarction were further divided into two subgroups of lacunar and non-lacunar infarction,and the same statisti-cal methods were employed to analyze differences of risk factors between the two subgroups. Results The frequen-cies of hypertension(P = 0.040)and large atherosclerotic infarction(P = 0.012)were significantly higher,and the serum high-density lipoprotein(HDL)level(P = 0.045)was significantly lower in posterior circulation than those in anterior circulation,respectively;and the onset of posterior circulation cerebral infarction was more associ-ated with the incidence of hypertension(OR = 1.767,P = 0.035)and the decrease of HDL(OR = 0.380,P =0.021). In anterior circulation,the levels of systolic blood pressure(SBP)(P = 0.011)and diastolic blood pres-sure(DBP)(P=0.000),as well as the frequency of large atherosclerotic infarction(P=0.000)in non-lacunar infarction subgroup were significantly higher than those in lacunar infarction subgroup respectively,and the onset of non-lacunar infarction was more closely related to increased SBP levels(OR=1.045,P=0.001). Conclusions Among the"three high"risk factors,the onset of posterior circulation cerebral infarction is more closely related to the incidence of hypertension and the decrease of HDL.In anterior circulation,and the onset of non-lacunar infarc-tion is more closely related to the increased levels of DBP and SBP,especially to the elevated levels of SBP.