Stage at diagnosis of colorectal cancer through diagnostic route:Who should be screened?

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a global health concern,with advanced-stage diagnoses contributing to poor prognoses.The efficacy of CRC screening has been well-established;nevertheless,a significant proportion of patients remain unscreened,with>70%of cases diagnosed outside screening.Although identifying specific subgroups for whom CRC screening should be particularly recommended is crucial owing to limited resources,the association between the diagnostic routes and identification of these subgroups has been less appreciated.In the Japanese cancer registry,the diagnostic routes for groups discovered outside of screening are primarily categorized into those with comorbidities found during hospital visits and those with CRC-related symptoms.AIM To clarify the stage at CRC diagnosis based on diagnostic routes.METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study using a cancer registry of patients with CRC between January 2016 and December 2019 at two hospitals.The diagnostic routes were primarily classified into three groups:Cancer screening,follow-up,and symptomatic.The early-stage was defined as Stages 0 or I.Multivariate and univariate logistic regressions were exploited to determine the odds of early-stage diagnosis in the symptomatic and cancer screening groups,referencing the follow-up group.The adjusted covariates were age,sex,and tumor location.RESULTS Of the 2083 patients,715(34.4%),1064(51.1%),and 304(14.6%)belonged to the follow-up,symptomatic,and cancer screening groups,respectively.Among the 2083 patients,CRCs diagnosed at an early stage were 57.3%(410 of 715),23.9%(254 of 1064),and 59.5%(181 of 304)in the follow-up,symptomatic,and cancer screening groups,respectively.The symptomatic group exhibited a lower likelihood of early-stage diagnosis than the follow-up group[P<0.001,adjusted odds ratio(aOR),0.23;95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.19-0.29].The likelihood of diagnosis at an early stage was similar between the follow-up and cancer screening groups(P=0.493,aOR for early-stage diagnosis in the cancer screening group vs follow-up group=1.11;95%CI=0.82-1.49).CONCLUSION CRCs detected during hospital visits for comorbidities were diagnosed earlier,similar to cancer screening.CRC screening should be recommended,particularly for patients without periodical hospital visits for comorbidities.

Circulating proteomic biomarkers for diagnosing sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:a cross-sectional study

Biomarke rs are required for the early detection,prognosis prediction,and monitoring of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,a progressive disease.Proteomics is an unbiased and quantitative method that can be used to detect neurochemical signatures to aid in the identification of candidate biomarke rs.In this study,we used a label-free quantitative proteomics approach to screen for substantially differentially regulated proteins in ten patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral scle rosis compared with five healthy controls.Su bstantial upregulation of serum proteins related to multiple functional clusters was observed in patients with spo radic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Potential biomarke rs were selected based on functionality and expression specificity.To validate the proteomics profiles,blood samples from an additional cohort comprising 100 patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 100 healthy controls were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Eight substantially upregulated serum proteins in patients with spora dic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were selected,of which the cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide demonstrated the best discriminative ability between patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and healthy controls(area under the curve[AUC]=0.713,P<0.0001).To further enhance diagnostic accuracy,a multi-protein combined discriminant algorithm was developed incorporating five proteins(hemoglobin beta,cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide,talin-1,zyxin,and translationally-controlled tumor protein).The algo rithm achieved an AUC of 0.811 and a P-value of<0.0001,resulting in 79%sensitivity and 71%specificity for the diagnosis of sporadic amyotrophic lateral scle rosis.Subsequently,the ability of candidate biomarkers to discriminate between early-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and controls,as well as patients with different disease severities,was examined.A two-protein panel comprising talin-1 and translationally-controlled tumor protein effectively distinguished early-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients from controls(AUC=0.766,P<0.0001).Moreove r,the expression of three proteins(FK506 binding protein 1A,cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide,and hemoglobin beta-1)was found to increase with disease progression.The proteomic signatures developed in this study may help facilitate early diagnosis and monitor the progression of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis when used in co mbination with curre nt clinical-based parameters.

气管黏液表皮样癌误诊为气管异物1例

1临床资料患儿,男,5岁,因进食后呛咳、发现气管异物4 h于2022-06-17就诊于昆明市儿童医院。患儿家属代诉患儿进食鸡蛋时不慎误吸,随后出现频繁、剧烈呛咳,伴喘息。随即于当地医院就诊,行胸部CT示气管近隆突部2.2 cm处见0.9 cm×0.8 cm稍高密度影,考虑异物(图1A)。诊断为主气管异物梗阻,未行处理,由救护车送至我院ICU。查体:一般情况欠佳,双肺呼吸音粗,可闻及少许痰鸣音,未闻及哮鸣音。入院诊断:气管内异物、呼吸道感染。患儿入ICU后为防止烦躁加重气管异物位置变化,给予舒芬太尼、右美托咪定和丙泊酚持续镇静镇痛,给予头孢唑林钠、奥美拉唑以及地奈德和吸入用盐酸氨溴索雾化。

Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in a German population

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis is key to prevent bowel damage in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Risk factor analyses linked with delayed diagnosis in European IBD patients are scarce and no data in German IBD patients exists.AIM To identify risk factors leading to prolonged diagnostic time in a German IBD cohort.METHODS Between 2012 and 2022,430 IBD patients from four Berlin hospitals were enrolled in a prospective study and asked to complete a 16-item questionnaire to determine features of the path leading to IBD diagnosis.Total diagnostic time was defined as the time from symptom onset to consulting a physician(patient waiting time)and from first consultation to IBD diagnosis(physician diagnostic time).Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for each time period.RESULTS The total diagnostic time was significantly longer in Crohn’s disease(CD)compared to ulcerative colitis(UC)patients(12.0 vs 4.0 mo;P<0.001),mainly due to increased physician diagnostic time(5.5 vs 1.0 mo;P<0.001).In a multivariate analysis,the predominant symptoms diarrhea(P=0.012)and skin lesions(P=0.028)as well as performed gastroscopy(P=0.042)were associated with longer physician diagnostic time in CD patients.In UC,fever was correlated(P=0.020)with shorter physician diagnostic time,while fatigue(P=0.011)and positive family history(P=0.046)were correlated with longer physician diagnostic time.CONCLUSION We demonstrated that CD patients compared to UC are at risk of long diagnostic delay.Future efforts should focus on shortening the diagnostic delay for a better outcome in these patients.

Clinical manifestations,diagnosis and long-term prognosis of adult autoimmune enteropathy:Experience from Peking Union Medical College Hospital

BACKGROUND Autoimmune enteropathy(AIE)is a rare disease whose diagnosis and long-term prognosis remain challenging,especially for adult AIE patients.AIM To improve overall understanding of this disease’s diagnosis and prognosis.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical,endoscopic and histopathological characteristics and prognoses of 16 adult AIE patients in our tertiary medical center between 2011 and 2023,whose diagnosis was based on the 2007 diagnostic criteria.RESULTS Diarrhea in AIE patients was characterized by secretory diarrhea.The common endoscopic manifestations were edema,villous blunting and mucosal hyperemia in the duodenum and ileum.Villous blunting(100%),deep crypt lymphocytic infiltration(67%),apoptotic bodies(50%),and mild intraepithelial lymphocytosis(69%)were observed in the duodenal biopsies.Moreover,there were other remarkable abnormalities,including reduced or absent goblet cells(duodenum 94%,ileum 62%),reduced or absent Paneth cells(duodenum 94%,ileum 69%)and neutrophil infiltration(duodenum 100%,ileum 69%).Our patients also fulfilled the 2018 diagnostic criteria but did not match the 2022 diagnostic criteria due to undetectable anti-enterocyte antibodies.All patients received glucocorticoid therapy as the initial medication,of which 14/16 patients achieved a clinical response in 5(IQR:3-20)days.Immunosuppressants were administered to 9 patients with indications of steroid dependence(6/9),steroid refractory status(2/9),or intensified maintenance medication(1/9).During the median of 20.5 months of followup,2 patients died from multiple organ failure,and 1 was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.The cumulative relapse-free survival rates were 62.5%,55.6%and 37.0%at 6 months,12 months and 48 months,respectively.CONCLUSION Certain histopathological findings,including a decrease or disappearance of goblet and Paneth cells in intestinal biopsies,might be potential diagnostic criteria for adult AIE.The long-term prognosis is still unsatisfactory despite corticosteroid and immunosuppressant medications,which highlights the need for early diagnosis and novel medications.

Urinary exosomal microRNA-145-5p and microRNA-27a-3p act as noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD),characterized by increased urinary microalbumin levels and decreased renal function,is the primary cause of end-stage renal di-sease.Its pathological mechanisms are complicated and multifactorial;Therefore,sensitive and specific biomarkers are needed.Urinary exosome originate from diverse renal cells in nephron segments and partially mirror the pathological changes in the kidney.The microRNAs(miRNAs)in urinary exosome are remark-ably stable and highly tissue-specific for the kidney.METHODS Type 2 diabetic mellitus(T2DM)patients were recruited from the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University and were divided into two groups:DM,diabetic pa-tients without albuminuria[urinary albumin to creatinine ratio(UACR)<30 mg/g]and DKD,diabetic patients with albuminuria(UACR≥30 mg/g).Healthy subjects were the normal control(NC)group.Urinary exosomal miR-145-5p,miR-27a-3p,and miR-29c-3p,were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The correlation between exosomal miRNAs and the clinical in-dexes was evaluated.The diagnostic values of exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p in DKD were determined using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis.Biological functions of miR-145-5p were investigated by performing RESULTS Urinary exosomal expression of miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p was more upregulated in the DKD group than in the DM group(miR-145-5p:4.54±1.45 vs 1.95±0.93,P<0.001;miR-27a-3p:2.33±0.79 vs 1.71±0.76,P<0.05)and the NC group(miR-145-5p:4.54±1.45 vs 1.55±0.83,P<0.001;miR-27a-3p:2.33±0.79 vs 1.10±0.51,P<0.001).The exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p positively correlated with albuminuria and serum creatinine and negatively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate.miR-27a-3p was also closely related to blood glucose,gly-cosylated hemoglobin A1c,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.ROC analysis revealed that miR-145-5p had a better area under the curve of 0.88[95%confidence interval(CI):0.784-0.985,P<0.0001]in diagnosing DKD than miR-27a-3p with 0.71(95%CI:0.547-0.871,P=0.0239).Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the target genes of miR-145-5p were located in the actin filament,cytoskeleton,and extracellular exosome and were involved in the pathological processes of DKD,including apoptosis,inflammation,and fibrosis.CONCLUSION Urinary exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p may serve as novel noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers or promising therapeutic targets for DKD.

Intelligent diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion based on color fundus photographs

AIM:To develop an artificial intelligence(AI)diagnosis model based on deep learning(DL)algorithm to diagnose different types of retinal vein occlusion(RVO)by recognizing color fundus photographs(CFPs).METHODS:Totally 914 CFPs of healthy people and patients with RVO were collected as experimental data sets,and used to train,verify and test the diagnostic model of RVO.All the images were divided into four categories[normal,central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO),branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO),and macular retinal vein occlusion(MRVO)]by three fundus disease experts.Swin Transformer was used to build the RVO diagnosis model,and different types of RVO diagnosis experiments were conducted.The model’s performance was compared to that of the experts.RESULTS:The accuracy of the model in the diagnosis of normal,CRVO,BRVO,and MRVO reached 1.000,0.978,0.957,and 0.978;the specificity reached 1.000,0.986,0.982,and 0.976;the sensitivity reached 1.000,0.955,0.917,and 1.000;the F1-Sore reached 1.000,0.9550.943,and 0.887 respectively.In addition,the area under curve of normal,CRVO,BRVO,and MRVO diagnosed by the diagnostic model were 1.000,0.900,0.959 and 0.970,respectively.The diagnostic results were highly consistent with those of fundus disease experts,and the diagnostic performance was superior.CONCLUSION:The diagnostic model developed in this study can well diagnose different types of RVO,effectively relieve the work pressure of clinicians,and provide help for the follow-up clinical diagnosis and treatment of RVO patients.

Non-participation of asymptomatic candidates in screening protocols reduces early diagnosis and worsens prognosis of colorectal cancer

The Agatsuma et al’s study shows that despite the evidence of the benefits of an early colorectal cancer(CRC)diagnosis,through screening in asymptomatic subjects,up to 50%of candidates reject this option and many of those affected are diagnosed later,in advanced stages.The efficacy of screening programs has been well-established for several years,which reduces the risk of CRC morbidity and mortality,without taking into account the test used for screening,or other tools.Nevertheless,a significant proportion of patients remain unscreened,so understanding the factors involved,as well as the barriers of the population to adherence is the first step to possibly modify the participation rate.These barriers could include a full range of social and political aspects,especially the type of financial provision of each health service.In Japan,health services are universal,and this advantageous situation makes it easier for citizens to access to these services,contributing to the detection of various diseases,including CRC.Interestingly,the symptomatic CRC group had a lower early-stage diagnosis rate than the patients detected during follow-up for other comorbidities,and symptomatic and cancer screening groups showed similar early-stage diagnosis.

Evaluation of the value of combined detection of tumor markers CA724,carcinoembryonic antigen,CA242,and CA19-9 in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is a global health concern that poses a significant threat to human well-being.AIM To detecting serum changes in carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigens(CA)724,CA242,and CA19-9 expression among patients with gastric cancer.METHODS Eighty patients diagnosed with gastric cancer between January 2020 and January 2023 were included in the observation group,while 80 patients with benign gastric diseases were included in the control group.Both groups were tested for tumor markers(CA724,CEA,CA242,and CA19-9].Tumor marker indicators(CA724,CEA,CA242,and CA19-9)were compared between the two groups,assessing positive rates of tumor markers across various stages in the observation group.Additionally,single and combined detection of various tumor markers were examined.RESULTS The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value observed for the combined detection of CA724,CEA,CA242,and CA19-9 were higher than those of CA724,CEA,CA242,and CA19-9 individually.Therefore,the combined detection of CA724,CEA,CA242,and CA19-9 has a high diagnostic accuracy and could reduce the occurrence of missed or misdiagnosed cases,facilitating the early diagnosis and treatment of patients.CONCLUSION CA724,CEA,CA242,and CA19-9 serum levels in gastric cancer patients significantly surpassed those in non-gastric cancer patients(P<0.05).Their combined detection can improve the diagnostic accuracy for gastric cancer,warranting clinical promotion.

Exploring non-invasive diagnostics for metabolic dysfunctionassociated fatty liver disease

The population with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is increasingly common worldwide.Identification of people at risk of progression to advanced stages is necessary to timely offer interventions and appropriate care.Liver biopsy is currently considered the gold standard for the diagnosis and staging of MAFLD,but it has associated risks and limitations.This has spurred the exploration of non-invasive diagnostics for MAFLD,especially for steatohepatitis and fibrosis.These non-invasive approaches mostly include biomarkers and algorithms derived from anthropometric measurements,serum tests,imaging or stool metagenome profiling.However,they still need rigorous and widespread clinical validation for the diagnostic performance.

FibroScan-aspartate transaminase:A superior non-invasive model for diagnosing high-risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)with hepatic histological NAFLD activity score≥4 and fibrosis stage F≥2 is regarded as“at risk”non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH).Based on an international consensus,NAFLD and NASH were renamed as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis(MASH),respectively;hence,we introduced the term“high-risk MASH”.Diagnostic values of seven non-invasive models,including FibroScan-aspartate transaminase(FAST),fibrosis-4(FIB-4),aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index(APRI),etc.for high-risk MASH have rarely been studied and compared in MASLD.AIM To assess the clinical value of seven non-invasive models as alternatives to liver biopsy for diagnosing high-risk MASH.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 309 patients diagnosed with NAFLD via liver biopsy at Beijing Ditan Hospital,between January 2012 and December 2020.After screening for MASLD and the exclusion criteria,279 patients wereincluded and categorized into high-risk and non-high-risk MASH groups.Utilizing threshold values of each model,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and negative predictive values(NPV),were calculated.Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to evaluate their diagnostic efficacy based on the area under the curve(AUROC).RESULTS MASLD diagnostic criteria were met by 99.4%patients with NAFLD.The MASLD population was analyzed in two cohorts:Overall population(279 patients)and the subgroup(117 patients)who underwent liver transient elastography(FibroScan).In the overall population,FIB-4 showed better diagnostic efficacy and higher PPV,with sensitivity,specificity,PPV,NPV,and AUROC of 26.9%,95.2%,73.5%,72.2%,and 0.75.APRI,Forns index,and aspartate transaminase to alanine transaminase ratio(ARR)showed moderate diagnostic efficacy,whereas S index and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio(GPR)were relatively weaker.In the subgroup,FAST had the highest diagnostic efficacy,its sensitivity,specificity,PPV,NPV,and AUROC were 44.2%,92.3%,82.1%,67.4%,and 0.82.The FIB-4 AUROC was 0.76.S index and GPR exhibited almost no diagnostic value for high-risk MASH.CONCLUSION FAST and FIB-4 could replace liver biopsy as more effectively diagnostic methods for high-risk MASH compared to APRI,Forns index,ARR,S index,and GPR;FAST is superior to FIB-4.

Magnetic resonance imaging scanning susceptibility weighted imaging sequences in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scanning with susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI)sequences plays a significant role in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).AIM To observe the role of MRI multi-parameter quantitative indexes in the diagnosis of neonatal HIE.METHODS The imaging data from 23 cases of neonatal HIE admitted to the Imaging Department of Ganyu District People's Hospital of Lianyungang City and 23 neonates without HIE admitted during the same period were analyzed retrospectively from August,2021 to December,2023.The results of clinical judgment were compared with the results of computed tomography(CT)and MRI examinations.RESULTS The degree of cerebral edema(more than moderate),the number of damaged brain regions(>2),the number of cerebral hemorrhages(>2),and the percentage of small venous dilatation detected were higher in MRI than in CT examination,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The total area of the largest region of cerebral damage and of cerebral hemorrhage observed by MRI examination were significantly larger than those of CT examination(P<0.01).Multiparametric quantitative MRI combined with diffusion weighted imaging and SWI had higher sensitivity and accuracy than CT diagnosis,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The difference in the specificity of the two modes of diagnosis was not significant(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The use of MRI multi-parameter quantitative indexes can accurately diagnose and evaluate neonatal HIE.

Transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter for the diagnosis of colorectal polyps in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND The severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and lipid metabolism are related to the occurrence of colorectal polyps.Liver-controlled attenuation parameters(liver-CAPs)have been established to predict the prognosis of hepatic steatosis patients.AIM To explore the risk factors associated with colorectal polyps in patients with NAFLD by analyzing liver-CAPs and establishing a diagnostic model.METHODS Patients who were diagnosed with colorectal polyps in the Department of Gastroenterology of our hospital between June 2021 and April 2022 composed the case group,and those with no important abnormalities composed the control group.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to predict the diagnostic efficiency.Differences were considered statistically significant when P<0.05.RESULTS The median triglyceride(TG)and liver-CAP in the case group were significantly greater than those in the control group(mmol/L,1.74 vs 1.05;dB/m,282 vs 254,P<0.05).TG and liver-CAP were found to be independent risk factors for colorectal polyps,with ORs of 2.338(95%CI:1.154–4.733)and 1.019(95%CI:1.006–1.033),respectively(P<0.05).And there was no difference in the diagnostic efficacy between liver-CAP and TG combined with liver-CAP(TG+CAP)(P>0.05).When the liver-CAP was greater than 291 dB/m,colorectal polyps were more likely to occur.CONCLUSION The levels of TG and liver-CAP in patients with colorectal polyps are significantly greater than those patients without polyps.Liver-CAP alone can be used to diagnose NAFLD with colorectal polyps.

Clinical diagnostic advances in intestinal anastomotic techniques:Hand suturing,stapling,and compression devices

The development of intestinal anastomosis techniques,including hand suturing,stapling,and compression anastomoses,has been a significant advancement in surgical practice.These methods aim to prevent leakage and minimize tissue fibrosis,which can lead to stricture formation.The healing process involves various phases:hemostasis and inflammation,proliferation,and remodeling.Mechanical staplers and sutures can cause inflammation and fibrosis due to the release of profibrotic chemokines.Compression anastomosis devices,including those made of nickel-titanium alloy,offer a minimally invasive option for various surgical challenges and have shown safety and efficacy.However,despite advancements,anastomotic techniques are evaluated based on leakage risk,with complications being a primary concern.Newer devices like Magnamosis use magnetic rings for compression anastomosis,demonstrating greater strength and patency compared to stapling.Magnetic technology is also being explored for other medical treatments.While there are promising results,particularly in animal models,the realworld application in humans is limited,and further research is needed to assess their safety and practicality.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease:Navigating terminological evolution,diagnostic frontiers and therapeutic horizon-an editorial exploration

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD),once known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),represents a spectrum of liver disorders characterized by lipid accumulation within hepatocytes.The redefinition of NAFLD in 2023 marked a significant reposition in terminology,emphasizing a broader understanding of liver steatosis and its associated risks.MASLD is now recognized as a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis,hepatocellular carcinoma,and systemic complications such as cardiovascular diseases or systemic inflammation.Diagnostic challenges arise,particularly in identifying MASLD in lean individuals,necessitating updated diagnostic protocols and investing in non-invasive diagnostic tools.Therapeutically,there is an urgent need for effective treatments targeting MASLD,with emerging pharmacological options focusing on,among others,carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.Additionally,understanding the roles of bile acid metabolism,the microbiome,and dietary interventions in MASLD pathogenesis and management holds promise for innovative therapeutic approaches.There is a strong need to emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts in understanding,diagnosing,and managing MASLD to improve physicians’approaches and patient outcomes.

Duodenal Crohn’s disease:Case report and systematic review

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease,including ulcerative colitis,microscopic colitis,and Crohn’s disease(CD),has a global impact.This review focuses on duodenal CD(DCD),a rare subtype affecting the duodenum.DCD’s rarity and asymptomatic nature create diagnostic challenges,impacting prognosis and patient well-being.Delayed diagnosis can worsen DCD outcomes.AIM To report a rare case of DCD and to discuss the diagnostic challenges and its implications on prognosis.METHODS A systematic literature search,following the PRISMA statement,was conducted.Relevant studies were identified and analysed using specific Medical Subject Terms(MeSH)from PubMed/MEDLINE,American Journal of Gastroenterology,and the University of South Wales database.Data collection included information from radiology scans,endoscopy procedures,biopsies,and histopathology results.RESULTS The review considered 8 case reports and 1 observational study,involving 44 participants diagnosed with DCD,some of whom developed complications due to delayed diagnosis.Various diagnostic methods were employed,as there is no gold standard workup for DCD.Radiology scans[magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),computed tomography(CT),and upper gastrointestinal X-ray],endoscopy procedures(colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy),biopsies,and clinical suspicions were utilized.CONCLUSION This review discusses DCD diagnosis challenges and the roles of CT,MRI,and fluoroscopy.It notes their limitations and compares findings with endoscopy and histopathology studies.Further research is needed to improve diagnosis,emphasizing scan interpretation,endoscopy procedures,and biopsies,especially in high-risk patients during routine endoscopy.

Optimized online filter stack spectrometer for ultrashort X-ray pulses

Currently,with the advent of high-repetition-rate laser-plasma experiments,the demand for online diagnosis for the X-ray spectrum is increasing because the laser-plasma-generated X-ray spectrum is very important for characterizing electron dynamics and applications.In this study,scintillators and silicon PIN(P-type–intrinsic-N-type semiconductor)diodes were used to construct a wideband online filter stack spectrometer.The X-ray sensor and filter arrangement was optimized using a genetic algorithm to minimize the condition number of the response matrix.Consequently,the unfolding error was significantly reduced based on numerical experiments.The detector responses were quantitatively calibrated by irradiating the scintillator and PIN diode with various nuclides and comparing the measuredγ-ray peaks.A prototype 15-channel spectrometer was developed by integrating an X-ray detector with front-and back-end electronics.The prototype spectrometer could record X-ray pulse signals at a repetition rate of 1 kHz.Furthermore,an optimized spectrometer was employed to record the real-time spectra of laser-driven bremsstrahlung sources.This optimized spectrometer offers a compact solution for spectrum diagnostics of ultrashort X-ray pulses,exhibiting improved accuracy in terms of spectrum measurements and repetition rates,and could be widely used in next-generation high-repetition-rate high-power laser facilities.

A synthetic diagnostics platform for microwave imaging diagnostics in tokamaks

Interpreting experimental diagnostics data in tokamaks,while considering non-ideal effects,is challenging due to the complexity of plasmas.To address this challenge,a general synthetic diagnostics(GSD)platform has been established that facilitates microwave imaging reflectometry and electron cyclotron emission imaging.This platform utilizes plasma profiles as input and incorporates the finite-difference time domain,ray tracing and the radiative transfer equation to calculate the propagation of plasma spontaneous radiation and the external electromagnetic field in plasmas.Benchmark tests for classical cases have been conducted to verify the accuracy of every core module in the GSD platform.Finally,2D imaging of a typical electron temperature distribution is reproduced by this platform and the results are consistent with the given real experimental data.This platform also has the potential to be extended to 3D electromagnetic field simulations and other microwave diagnostics such as cross-polarization scattering.

Addressing diagnostic delays in inflammatory bowel diseases in Germany

Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBDs),including Crohn's disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis,are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract that necessitate timely diagnosis to prevent complications and improve patient outcomes.Despite advancements in medical knowledge and diagnostic techniques,significant diagnostic delays persist,particularly in CD.The study by Blüthner et al,published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology,elucidates the diagnostic delays experienced by German patients with IBD and identifies key risk factors contributing to these delays.

Polarimeter–interferometer diagnostic using terahertz solid-state sources for fluctuation measurements on Keda Torus e Xperiment(KTX)

A multi-channel polarimeter-interferometer has been developed on the Keda Torus eXperiment(KTX)for the study of equilibrium dynamics and internal magnetic fluctuations.A three-wave technique based on terahertz solid-state sources(-650 GHz)is applied for simultaneous measurements of electron density and Faraday rotation angle.The output power of the microwave source is 2 mW.Faraday rotation effect using a rotating wave plate is tested with phase noise less than 0.8°,and the density phase noise is less than 0.9°.Measurement of Faraday rotation angle and density for discharges on KTX have demonstrated high sensitivity to internal MHD activities.