Sarcopenia, an age-related degenerative skeletal muscle disorder characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass, diminished strength, and impaired physical function, poses substantial challenges to global healthy aging initiatives. The pathogenesis of this condition is fundamentally rooted in mitochondrial dysfunction, manifested through defective energy metabolism, disrupted redox equilibrium, imbalanced dynamics, and compromised organelle quality control. This comprehensive review elucidates the central role of exercise-induced mitochondrial hormesis as a critical adaptive mechanism counteracting sarcopenia. Mitohormesis represents an evolutionarily conserved stress response wherein sublethal mitochondrial perturbations, particularly transient low-dose reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during muscle contraction, activate cytoprotective signaling cascades rather than inflicting macromolecular damage. The mechanistic foundation of this process involves ROS functioning as essential signaling molecules that activate the Keap1 nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant response element pathway. This activation drives transcriptional upregulation of phase II detoxifying enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thereby enhancing cellular redox buffering capacity. Crucially, Nrf2 engages in bidirectional molecular crosstalk with peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), the principal regulator orchestrating mitochondrial biogenesis through coordinated induction of nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2 (NRF1/2) along with mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), collectively facilitating mitochondrial DNA replication and respiratory complex assembly. Concurrently, exercise-induced alterations in cellular energy status, specifically diminished ATP to AMP ratios, potently activate AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). This energy-sensing kinase phosphorylates PGC-1α while concomitantly stimulating NAD dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activity, which further potentiates PGC-1α function through post-translational deacetylation. The integrated AMPK/PGC-1α/SIRT1 axis coordinates mitochondrial biogenesis, optimizes network architecture through regulation of fusion proteins mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) and optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1), and enhances clearance of damaged organelles via selective activation of mitophagy receptors BCL2 interacting protein 3 (Bnip1) and FUN14 domain containing 1 (FNDC1). Exercise further stimulates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), increasing molecular chaperones such as heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and HSP10 to preserve proteostasis. Within the mitochondrial matrix, SIRT3 fine-tunes metabolic flux through deacetylation of electron transport chain components, improving phosphorylation efficiency while attenuating pathological ROS emission. Distinct exercise modalities differentially engage these pathways. Aerobic endurance training primarily activates AMPK/PGC-1α signaling and UPRmt to expand mitochondrial volume and oxidative capacity. Resistance training exploits mechanical tension to acutely stimulate mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) mediated protein synthesis while modulating dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1) phosphorylation dynamics to support mitochondrial network reorganization. High intensity interval training generates potent metabolic oscillations that rapidly amplify AMPK/PGC-1α and Nrf2 activation, demonstrating particular efficacy in insulin-resistant phenotypes. Strategically designed concurrent training regimens synergistically integrate these adaptations. Mitochondrial-nuclear communication through tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites and mitochondrially derived peptides such as mitochondrial open reading frame of 12s rRNA-c (MOTS-c) coordinates systemic metabolic reprogramming, with exercise-responsive myokines including fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) mediating inter-tissue signaling to reduce inflammation and enhance insulin sensitivity. This integrated framework provides the scientific foundation for precision exercise interventions targeting mitochondrial pathophysiology in sarcopenia, incorporating biomarker monitoring and exploring pharmacological potentiators including nicotinamide riboside and MOTS-c mimetics. Future investigations should delineate temporal dynamics of mitohormesis signaling and epigenetic regulation to optimize therapeutic approaches for age-related muscle decline.

ObjectiveTo establish a model that can quickly identify the aroma components in different parts of Nardostachys jatamansi， so as to provide a quality control basis for the market circulation and clinical use of N. jatamansi. MethodsHeadspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-SPME-GC-MS） combined with Smart aroma database and National Institute of Standards and Technology（NIST） database were used to characterize the aroma components in different parts of N. jatamansi， and the aroma components were quantified according to relative response factor（RRF） and three internal standards， and the markers of aroma differences in different parts of N. jatamansi were identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） and cluster thermal analysis based on variable importance in the projection（VIP） value >1 and P<0.01. The odor data of different parts of N. jatamansi were collected by Heracles Ⅱ Neo ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose， and the correlation between compound types of aroma components collected by the ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose and the detection results of HS-SPME-GC-MS was investigated by drawing odor fingerprints and odor response radargrams. Chromatographic peak information with distinguishing ability≥0.700 and peak area≥200 was selected as sensor data， and the rapid identification model of different parts of N. jatamansi was established by principal component analysis（PCA）， discriminant factor alysis（DFA）， soft independent modeling of class analogies（SIMCA） and statistical quality control analysis（SQCA）. ResultsThe HS-SPME-GC-MS results showed that there were 28 common components in the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi， of which 22 could be quantified and 12 significantly different components were screened out. Among these 12 components， the contents of five components（ethyl isovalerate， 2-pentylfuran， benzyl alcohol， nonanal and glacial acetic acid，） in the aboveground part of N. jatamansi were significantly higher than those in the underground part（P<0.01）， the contents of β-ionone， patchouli alcohol， α-caryophyllene， linalyl butyrate， valencene， 1，8-cineole and p-cymene in the underground part of N. jatamansi were significantly higher than those in the aboveground part（P<0.01）. Heracles Ⅱ Neo electronic nose results showed that the PCA discrimination index of the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi was 82， and the contribution rates of the principal component factors were 99.94% and 99.89% when 2 and 3 principal components were extracted， respectively. The contribution rate of the discriminant factor 1 of the DFA model constructed on the basis of PCA was 100%， the validation score of the SIMCA model for discrimination of the two parts was 99， and SQCA could clearly distinguish different parts of N. jatamansi. ConclusionHS-SPME-GC-MS can clarify the differential markers of underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi. The four analytical models provided by Heracles Ⅱ Neo electronic nose（PCA， DFA， SIMCA and SQCA） can realize the rapid identification of different parts of N. jatamansi. Combining the two results， it is speculated that terpenes and carboxylic acids may be the main factors contributing to the difference in aroma between the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi.

ObjectiveTo understand the epidemiological distribution and gene evolutionary variation of influenza A (H3N2) viruses in Fengxian District, Shanghai, in the surveillance year of 2023, and to provide a reference basis for influenza prevention and control. MethodsThe prevalence of influenza virus in Fengxian District in the 2023 influenza surveillance year (April 2023‒March 2024) was analyzed. The hemagglutinin (HA) gene, neuraminidase (NA) gene, and amino acid sequences of 75 strains of H3N2 influenza viruses were compared with the vaccine reference strain for similarity matching and phylogenetic evolutionary analysis, in addition to an analysis of gene characterization and variation. ResultsIn Fengxian District, there was a mixed epidemic of H3N2 and H1N1 in the spring of 2023, with H3N2 being the predominant subtype in the second half of the year, and Victoria B becoming the predominant subtype in the spring of 2024. A total of 75 influenza strains of H3N2 with HA and NA genes were distributed in the 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.2a.3a.1 and B.4 branches, with overall similarity to the reference strain of the 2024 vaccine higher than that of the reference strain of the 2022 and 2023 vaccine. Compared with the 2023 vaccine reference strain, three antigenic sites and one receptor binding site were changed in HA, with three glycosylation sites reduced and two glycosylation sites added; where as in NA seven antigenic sites and the 222nd resistance site changed with two glycosylation sites reduced. ConclusionThe risk of antigenic variation and drug resistance of H3N2 in this region is high, and it is necessary to strengthen the publicity and education on the 2024 influenza vaccine and long-term monitoring of influenza virus prevalence and variation levels.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and potential mechanism of caffeic acid （CA） on severe acute pancreatitis （SAP） induced by caerulein combined with lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， and to provide a basis for the research on novel drugs for the treatment of SAP. MethodsC57BL/6J mice， aged 6 weeks， were divided into control group， model group， CA group， and octreotide acetate （OA） group， with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the control group were given injection of normal saline， and those in the other groups were given intraperitoneal injection of caerulein combined with LPS to establish a mouse model of SAP. At 1 hour after the first injection of caerulein， the mice in the CA group and the OA group were given intraperitoneal injection of CA or subcutaneous injection of OA at an interval of 8 hours. The general status of the mice was observed after 24 hours of modeling， and serum， pancreas， lung， and colon samples were collected. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of the pancreas and lungs， and the serum levels of α-amylase， lipase， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， alanine aminotransferase， aspartate aminotransferase， and creatinine were measured. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of proinflammatory factors in the pancreas and lungs； myeloperoxidase （MPO） immunohistochemistry was used to observe the degree of neutrophil infiltration； Western blot was used to measure the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） and the level of citrullinated histone H3 （CitH3）， a marker for the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps （NETs）， in the pancreas and lungs， as well as the expression level of ZO-1 in colon tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the Dunnett’s t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group had severe injury in the pancreas and lungs and significant increases in the activity of serum α- amylase and lipase and the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue （all P<0.05）， as well as significant increases in NF-κB activation， neutrophil infiltration， and the formation of NETs in the pancreas and lungs （all P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the CA group had alleviated pathological injury of the pancreas and lungs and significant reductions in the activity of serum α-amylase and the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6， IL-1β， and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue （all P<0.05）， as well as significant reductions in NF-κB activation， neutrophil infiltration， and the formation of NETs in the pancreas and lungs （all P<0.05）. ConclusionCA can alleviate SAP induced by caerulein combined with LPS in mice， possibly by inhibiting neutrophil recruitment and the formation of NETs.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of compatibility of Ephedrae Herba，Asari Radix et Rhizoma， and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata on the expression of type 2 innate lymphoid cells（ILC2s）-related factors in the lung of allergic rhinitis（AR）mice. MethodsAccording to the random number table method，fifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the following groups： Blank group，model group，Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group，Asari Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group，Ephedrae Herba and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group，Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group，Ephedrae Herba group，Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group （6 mice in each group）. Except the blank group，the other groups were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin（OVA）and intranasal challenge to induce AR. After the AR model was established，the mice in the blank group and the model group were given 0.2 mL·d^-1 normal saline by gavage，while those in the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group（2.31 g·kg^-1），Asari Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.54 g·kg^-1）， Ephedrae Herba and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（1.16 g·kg^-1）， Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.93 g·kg^-1），Ephedrae Herba group（0.77 g·kg^-1），Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.16 g·kg^-1），and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（0.39 g·kg^-1）were given corresponding medicine by gavage，with the treatment lasting for 14 consecutive days. The survival state of mice in each group was observed， and the levels of serum immunoglobulins E（IgE）after intranasal challenge were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. The pathological changes of nasal and lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining. The expression of ILC2s in lung tissue of mice was detected by immunofluorescence（IF）. The mRNA expression of GATA binding protein 3（GATA3），retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-α（RORα）， and inhibitor of DNA binding 2（ID2）in the lung tissue of mice was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction（real-time PCR）. The levels of IgE，interleukin（IL）-4，IL-5， and IL-13 in serum were detected by ELISA. ResultsCompared with the blank group，the model group had poor survival state of mice and significantly increased serum IgE level after intranasal challenge（p<0.01）. Additionally，the mice in the model group showed a large amount of neutrophil infiltration in the mucosa of the posterior turbinate， obvious nasal mucosal bleeding and purulent secretion，shed epithelium， thickened bronchial wall，obvious intravascular hyperemia and edema，diffusion and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells，seriously damaged alveolar structure，and local lung consolidation. The model group also exhibited significantly increased expression of ILC2s in the lung tissue（P<0.01），increased mRNA expression of GATA3 and RORα，decreased mRNA expression of ID2（P<0.05，P<0.01），and increased levels of serum IgE， IL-4，IL-5，and IL-13（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group and the other medicine treatment groups showed improved survival state of mice， significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal and lung tissues，a small amount of nasal mucosal bleeding，trachea wall thinning，and no hyperemia，edema， and nasal secretions. Furthermore， the expression of ILC2s in lung tissue was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression level of GATA3 was decreased（P<0.05），especially in the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（P<0.01）. The expression mRNA levels of RORα were decreased only in the Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group and the Ephedrae Herba group（P<0.05）. The levels of serum IgE were decreased（P<0.05）， and IL-5 levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in the groups except the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（P<0.01），and the level of IL-13 in the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group was decreased（P<0.05）. The levels of IL-13 in were significantly decreased in the Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， Ephedrae Herba group， Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（P<0.01）. ConclusionDifferent compatibility of Ephedrae Herba，Asari Radix et Rhizoma， and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata can reduce the inflammation of OVA-induced AR mice and has more advantages in reducing the secretion of IgE and IL-5. The compatibility of Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata has the most advantage in reducing the mRNA expression of GATA3 and RORα to inhibit the expression of ILC2s and thus exert the anti-allergic effect，while the other compatibility has the extensive advantage in inhibiting the mRNA expression of GATA3.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of compatibility of Ephedrae Herba，Asari Radix et Rhizoma， and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata on the expression of type 2 innate lymphoid cells（ILC2s）-related factors in the lung of allergic rhinitis（AR）mice. MethodsAccording to the random number table method，fifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the following groups： Blank group，model group，Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group，Asari Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group，Ephedrae Herba and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group，Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group，Ephedrae Herba group，Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group （6 mice in each group）. Except the blank group，the other groups were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin（OVA）and intranasal challenge to induce AR. After the AR model was established，the mice in the blank group and the model group were given 0.2 mL·d^-1 normal saline by gavage，while those in the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group（2.31 g·kg^-1），Asari Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.54 g·kg^-1）， Ephedrae Herba and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（1.16 g·kg^-1）， Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.93 g·kg^-1），Ephedrae Herba group（0.77 g·kg^-1），Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（1.16 g·kg^-1），and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（0.39 g·kg^-1）were given corresponding medicine by gavage，with the treatment lasting for 14 consecutive days. The survival state of mice in each group was observed， and the levels of serum immunoglobulins E（IgE）after intranasal challenge were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. The pathological changes of nasal and lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining. The expression of ILC2s in lung tissue of mice was detected by immunofluorescence（IF）. The mRNA expression of GATA binding protein 3（GATA3），retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-α（RORα）， and inhibitor of DNA binding 2（ID2）in the lung tissue of mice was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction（real-time PCR）. The levels of IgE，interleukin（IL）-4，IL-5， and IL-13 in serum were detected by ELISA. ResultsCompared with the blank group，the model group had poor survival state of mice and significantly increased serum IgE level after intranasal challenge（p<0.01）. Additionally，the mice in the model group showed a large amount of neutrophil infiltration in the mucosa of the posterior turbinate， obvious nasal mucosal bleeding and purulent secretion，shed epithelium， thickened bronchial wall，obvious intravascular hyperemia and edema，diffusion and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells，seriously damaged alveolar structure，and local lung consolidation. The model group also exhibited significantly increased expression of ILC2s in the lung tissue（P<0.01），increased mRNA expression of GATA3 and RORα，decreased mRNA expression of ID2（P<0.05，P<0.01），and increased levels of serum IgE， IL-4，IL-5，and IL-13（P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group and the other medicine treatment groups showed improved survival state of mice， significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal and lung tissues，a small amount of nasal mucosal bleeding，trachea wall thinning，and no hyperemia，edema， and nasal secretions. Furthermore， the expression of ILC2s in lung tissue was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression level of GATA3 was decreased（P<0.05），especially in the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（P<0.01）. The expression mRNA levels of RORα were decreased only in the Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group and the Ephedrae Herba group（P<0.05）. The levels of serum IgE were decreased（P<0.05）， and IL-5 levels were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in the groups except the Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group（P<0.01），and the level of IL-13 in the Mahuang Fuzi Xixintang group was decreased（P<0.05）. The levels of IL-13 in were significantly decreased in the Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， Ephedrae Herba group， Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata group， and Asari Radix et Rhizoma group（P<0.01）. ConclusionDifferent compatibility of Ephedrae Herba，Asari Radix et Rhizoma， and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata can reduce the inflammation of OVA-induced AR mice and has more advantages in reducing the secretion of IgE and IL-5. The compatibility of Ephedrae Herba and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata has the most advantage in reducing the mRNA expression of GATA3 and RORα to inhibit the expression of ILC2s and thus exert the anti-allergic effect，while the other compatibility has the extensive advantage in inhibiting the mRNA expression of GATA3.

ObjectiveThe rapid advancement of bioanalytical technologies has heightened the demand for high-throughput, label-free, and real-time cellular analysis. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) operating in the GHz frequency range (GHz-EIS) has emerged as a promising tool for characterizing cell suspensions due to its ability to rapidly and non-invasively capture the dielectric properties of cells and their microenvironment. Although GHz-EIS enables rapid and label-free detection of cell suspensions, significant challenges remain in interpreting GHz impedance data for complex samples, limiting the broader application of this technique in cellular research. To address these challenges, this study presents a novel method that integrates GHz-EIS with deep learning algorithms, aiming to improve the precision of cell suspension concentration identification and quantification. This method provides a more efficient and accurate solution for the analysis of GHz impedance data. MethodsThe proposed method comprises two key components: dielectric property dataset construction and backpropagation (BP) neural network modeling. Yeast cell suspensions at varying concentrations were prepared and separately introduced into a coaxial sensor for impedance measurement. The dielectric properties of these suspensions were extracted using a GHz-EIS dielectric property extraction method applied to the measured impedance data. A dielectric properties dataset incorporating concentration labels was subsequently established and divided into training and testing subsets. A BP neural network model employing specific activation functions (ReLU and Leaky ReLU) was then designed. The model was trained and tested using the constructed dataset, and optimal model parameters were obtained through this process. This BP neural network enables automated extraction and analytical processing of dielectric properties, facilitating precise recognition of cell suspension concentrations through data-driven training. ResultsThrough comparative analysis with conventional centrifugal methods, the recognized concentration values of cell suspensions showed high consistency, with relative errors consistently below 5%. Notably, high-concentration samples exhibited even smaller deviations, further validating the precision and reliability of the proposed methodology. To benchmark the recognition performance against different algorithms, two typical approaches—support vector machines (SVM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN)—were selected for comparison. The proposed method demonstrated superior performance in quantifying cell concentrations. Specifically, the BP neural network achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.06% and an R² value of 0.997 across the entire concentration range, demonstrating both high predictive accuracy and excellent model fit. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the proposed method enables accurate and rapid determination of unknown sample concentrations. By combining GHz-EIS with BP neural network algorithms, efficient identification of cell concentrations is achieved, laying the foundation for the development of a convenient online cell analysis platform and showing significant application prospects. Compared to typical recognition approaches, the proposed method exhibits superior capabilities in recognizing cell suspension concentrations. Furthermore, this methodology not only accelerates research in cell biology and precision medicine but also paves the way for future EIS biosensors capable of intelligent, adaptive analysis in dynamic biological research.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating tumor deposits (TDs) from metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with rectal cancer, including 168 lesions (70 TDs and 98 MLNs confirmed by histopathology), who underwent pretreatment MRI and subsequent surgery between March 2019 and December 2022. The morphological characteristics of TDs and MLNs, along with quantitative parameters derived from DCE-MRI (K trans , kep, and v e) and DWI (ADCmin, ADCmax, and ADCmean), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Multivariable binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of significant individual quantitative parameters and combined parameters in distinguishing TDs from MLNs. Results: All morphological features, including size, shape, border, and signal intensity, as well as all DCE-MRI parameters showed significant differences between TDs and MLNs (all P < 0.05). However, ADC values did not demonstrate significant differences (all P > 0.05). Among the single quantitative parameters, v e had the highest diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.772 for distinguishing TDs from MLNs. A multivariable logistic regression model incorporating short axis, border, v e, and ADC mean improved diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 0.833 (P = 0.027). Conclusion The combination of morphological features, DCE-MRI parameters, and ADC values can effectively aid in the preoperative differentiation of TDs from MLNs in rectal cancer.