Value of dual-energy CT virtual noncalcium in the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint bone marrow edema

Objective:To explore the clinical value of dual energy CT(DECT)virtual noncalcium(VNCa)in the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint bone marrow edema(BME).Methods:A collection of 45 patients(21 males,24 females,and an average age of 34 years)who underwent MRI and DECT(Siemens Somatom definition force)examinations for the sacroiliac joints in our hospital from January 2019 to August 2020.After the DECT scan,the bone marrow pseudo-color map was obtained after VNCa processing.The bone marrow pseudo-color map was evaluated by two physicians.Take MRI test results as the gold standard,the application value of DECT VNCa technology in the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint BME was analyzed.Results:The positive predictive value(PPV),negative predictive value(NPV),sensitivity(Sen),specificity(Spe)and accuracy(Acc)of the qualitative diagnosis of iliac bone and sacral BME with DECT VNCa technology was:80.6%,85.2%,78.4%,86.8%,83.3%and 100%,64.9%,32.5%,100%,70.0%,respectively.The area of edema displayed by quantitative measurement of DECT VNCa image is smaller than the area measured by MRI image.The VNCa CT value(-71.66±72.97Hu)of the iliac edema area was higher than that of the non-edema area(-90.27±65.85Hu),and the VNCa CT value of the sacral edema area(-62.90±46.87Hu)was higher than that of the non-edema area(-101.08±134.02Hu),the best cut-off values(Cut-off values)for the quantitative diagnosis of iliac bone and sacral BME by VNCa are-66.40Hu and-50.60Hu,respectively.The curve of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)of the iliac bone and sacrum area under the cure(AUC)is 0.720 and 0.706 respectively.There is a moderate negative correlation between the VNCa CT values of the ilium and sacrum in the edema area and the conventional CT values.Conclusion:The DECT VNCa technique has certain effectiveness in the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint BME,and its effectiveness in the diagnosis of ilium BME is better than sacrum.

Solvothermal-induced construction of ultra-tiny Fe_(2)O_(3) nanoparticles/graphene hydrogels as binder-free high-capacitance anode for supercapacitors

Three-dimensional(3D) ultra-tiny Fe_(2)O_(3) nanoparticles/graphene hydrogels were prepared using a facile and efficient solvothermal reaction, by which the phase of iron oxide, particle size and the morphology of hydrogels can be precisely controlled by simply adjusting the solvothermal reaction time. Accordingly, the effect of the microstructures of hydrogels on electrochemical performance was systematically studied. It was found that Fe_(2)O_(3)/r GO-50 hydrogels(with a solvothermal reaction time of 50 min) possessed a desirable crystallinity, suitable particle size, decent porous structure, large specific surface area and high electrical conductivity, thus exhibiting a superior electrochemical performance as binder-free anode of supercapacitors: a large potential range of 1.15 V, an ultrahigh specific capacitance of 1090 F·g^(-1) at a current density of 2A·g^(-1) and excellent rate capability (531 F·g^(-1) at 10 A·g^(-1)). The rational design and systematic research of electrode materials will provide new lights for the preparation of advanced electrochemical energy storage devices.