Effects of psychological nursing in Parkinson's related depression patients undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging:A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Patients with Parkinson’s disease(PD)often experience depression,and some may require magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)for diagnosis,which can lead to MRI failure due to claustrophobia.AIM To explore the value of psychological interventions in successfully completing functional MRI scans of the brain for PD-related depression.METHODS Ninety-six patients with PD were randomly divided into two groups.The control group(47 patients)received general care,and the experimental group(49 patients)received general care combined with psychological care.The Unified Parkinson's Disease Assessment Scale(UPDRS),Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),and Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS)-15 scores,heart rate,systolic blood pressure,and MRI-Anxiety Questionnaire(MRI-AQ)scores before and after the scan were recorded.The completion rate of magnetic resonance(MR)scanning,scanning duration,and image quality scores were recorded.RESULTS Before scanning,no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of heart rate,systolic blood pressure,and UPDRS,HAMD,GDS-15,and MRI-AQ scores.After scanning,systolic blood pressure,MRI-AQ score,and scan time in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group,whereas the scan completion rate and image quality score were significantly higher than those in the control group.CONCLUSION Psychological nursing interventions are helpful in alleviating PD-related depression and assessing MR depression scores and may be helpful in the successful completion of functional MRI scans of the patient's brain.

Research progresses of resting-state functional MRI in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease(AD)is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline in the early stage.Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)is considered as an intermediate stage between normal aging and AD.In recent years,studies related to resting-state functional MRI(rs-fMRI)indicated that the occurrence and development process of MCI and AD might be closely linked to spontaneous brain activity and alterations in functional connectivity among brain regions,and rs-fMRI could provide important reference for specific diagnosis and early treatment of MCI and AD.The research progresses of rs-fMRI for MCI and AD were reviewed in this article.

Deep learning models semi-automatic training system for quality control of transthoracic echocardiography

Objective To explore the value of deep learning(DL)models semi-automatic training system for automatic optimization of clinical image quality control of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE).Methods Totally 1250 TTE videos from 402 patients were retrospectively collected,including 490 apical four chamber(A4C),310 parasternal long axis view of left ventricle(PLAX)and 450 parasternal short axis view of great vessel(PSAX GV).The videos were divided into development set(245 A4C,155 PLAX,225 PSAX GV),semi-automated training set(98 A4C,62 PLAX,90 PSAX GV)and test set(147 A4C,93 PLAX,135 PSAX GV)at the ratio of 5∶2∶3.Based on development set and semi-automatic training set,DL model of quality control was semi-automatically iteratively optimized,and a semi-automatic training system was constructed,then the efficacy of DL models for recognizing TTE views and assessing imaging quality of TTE were verified in test set.Results After optimization,the overall accuracy,precision,recall,and F1 score of DL models for recognizing TTE views in test set improved from 97.33%,97.26%,97.26%and 97.26%to 99.73%,99.65%,99.77%and 99.71%,respectively,while the overall accuracy for assessing A4C,PLAX and PSAX GV TTE as standard views in test set improved from 89.12%,83.87%and 90.37%to 93.20%,90.32%and 93.33%,respectively.Conclusion The developed DL models semi-automatic training system could improve the efficiency of clinical imaging quality control of TTE and increase iteration speed.

Analysis of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase after radiofrequency ablation of primary liver cancer: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Changes in alkaline phosphatase(ALP)andγ-glutamyltransferase(GGT)levels in patients with primary liver cancer(PLC)after radiofrequency ablation(RFA).Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor with high incidence worldwide.As a common local treatment,RFA has attracted much attention for its efficacy and influence on liver function.AIM To investigate the effect of serum ALP and GGT levels on the prognosis of patients with PLC treated by RFA.METHODS The preoperative clinical data of 165 patients who were pathologically or clinically diagnosed with PLC and who received RFA in our hospital between October 2018 and June 2023 were collected.The chi-square test was used to compare the data between groups.The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to analyze the associ-ations between serum ALP and GGT levels and overall survival,progression-free survival(PFS)and clinical characteristics of patients before treatment.RESULTS The 1-year survival rates of patients with normal(≤135 U/L)and abnormal(>135 U/L)serum ALP before treatment were 91%and 79%,respectively;the 2-year survival rates were 90%and 68%,respectively;and the 5-year survival rates were 35%and 18%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.01).Before treatment,the 1-year survival rates of patients with normal serum GGT levels(≤45 U/L)and abnormal serum GGT levels(>45 U/L)were 95%and 87%,the 2-year survival rates were 85%and 71%,and the 5-year survival rates were 37%and 21%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statist-ically significant(P<0.001).Serum ALP[hazard ratio(HR)=1.766,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.068-2.921,P=0.027]and GGT(HR=2.312,95%CI:1.367-3.912,P=0.002)is closely related to the overall survival of PLC patients after RF ablation and is an independent prognostic factor.The 1-year PFS rates were 72%and 50%,the 2-year PFS rates were 52%and 21%,and the 5-year PFS rates were 14%and 3%,respectively.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0001).The 1-year PFS rates were 81%and 56%in patients with normal and abnormal serum GGT levels before treatment,respectively;the 2-year PFS rates were 62%and 35%,respectively;and the 5-year PFS rates were 18%and 7%,respectively,with statistical significance between the two groups(P<0.001).The serum ALP concentration(HR=1.653,95%CI:1.001-2.729,P=0.049)and GGT(HR=1.949,95%CI:1.296-2.930,P=0.001)was closely associated with PFS after RFA in patients with PLC.The proportion of male patients with abnormal ALP levels is high,the Child-Pugh grade of liver function is poor,and the incidence of ascites is high.Among GGT-abnormal patients,the Child-Pugh grade of liver function was poor,the tumor stage was late,the proportion of patients with tumors≥5 cm was high,and the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was high.CONCLUSION Serum ALP and GGT levels before treatment can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with PLC after RFA,and they have certain guiding significance for the long-term survival of patients with PLC after radiofrequency therapy.

One Case of Right Posterior Mediastinum Intraneural Hemangioma Misdiagnosed as Neurilemmoma

Although rare, intraneural hemangiomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of peripheral nerve lesions. We report on a 59-year-old female patient, who was admitted to the hospital due to the discovery of bilateral breast masses for 3 months, there was no paresthesia or dyskinesia. The patient accidentally found a mass in the right upper mediastinum while completing a plain chest X-ray, initially suspected as a benign neurilemmoma on CT. Surgical resection and pathological analysis confirmed an intraneural hemangioma. Unexpectedly, the patient developed new-onset right upper limb numbness and paresthesia 3 months post-operatively, probably related to surgical nerve injury. This case underscores the importance of maintaining a broad differential for mediastinal masses, and the potential for iatrogenic neurological complications when managing these rare, yet vascular lesions.

Role of the texture features of images in the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules in different sizes

Objective： To explore the role of the texture features of images in the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules （SPNs） in different sizes. Materials and methods： A total of 379 patients with pathologically confirmed SPNs were enrolled in this study. They were divided into three groups based on the SPN sizes： ≤10, 11-20, and 〉20 mm. Their texture features were segmented and extracted. The differences in the image features between benign and malignant SPNs were compared. The SPNs in these three groups were determined and analyzed with the texture features of images. Results： These 379 SPNs were successfully segmented using the 2D Otsu threshold method and the self-adaptive threshold segmentation method. The texture features of these SPNs were obtained using the method of grey level co-occurrence matrix （GLCM）. Of these 379 patients, 120 had benign SPNs and 259 had malignant SPNs. The entropy, contrast, energy, homogeneity, and correlation were 3.5597±0.6470, 0.5384±0.2561, 0.1921±0.1256, 0.8281±0.0604, and 0.8748±0.0740 in the benign SPNs and 3.8007±0.6235, 0.6088±0.2961, 0.1673±0.1070, 0.7980±0.0555, and 0.8550±0.0869 in the malignant SPNs （all P〈0.05）. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the texture features of images were 83.3%, 90.0%, and 86.8%, respectively, for SPNs sized 〈10 mm, and were 86.6%, 88.2%, and 87.1%, respectively, for SPNs sized 11-20 mm and 94.7%, 91.8%, and 93.9%, respectively, for SPNs sized 〉20 mm. Conclusions： The entropy and contrast of malignant pulmonary nodules have been demonstrated to be higher in comparison to those of benign pulmonary nodules, while the energy, homogeneity correlation of malignant pulmonary nodules are lower than those of benign pulmonary nodules. The texture features of images can reflect the tissue features and have high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in differentiating SPNs. The sensitivity and accuracy increase for larger SPNs.

Comparative Study of Images with Pathology:Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Image(MRI)of Splenic VX2 Tumor in Rats

Objective： To establish a rodent model of VX2 tumor of the spleen, to analyze relationship between the change of the signal intensity on superparamagnetic iron oxide enhanced magnetic resonance image （MRI） and pathologic change to evaluate the ability of superparamagnetic iron oxide enhanced MRI for detection of splenic metastases. Methods： 8 rodent models of VX2 tumor of spleen were established successfully. The images were obtained before and after administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide. T1-weighted spin-echo （SE） pulse sequence with a repetition time （TR） of 450 msec, and echo time （TE） of 12 msec （TR/TE=450/12） was used. The imaging parameters of T2-weighted SE pulse sequence were as follows： TR/TE=4000/128. Results： On plain MR scanning T1-weighted splenic VX2 tumor showed hypointensity or isointensity which approximated to the SI of splenic parenchyma. Therefore all lesions were not displayed clearly. On superparamagnetic iron oxide enhancement T2WI sequence the SI of splenic parenchyma decreased obviously with percentage of signal intensity loss （PSIL） of 55.04%, But the SI of tumor was not evidently changed with PSIL of 0.87%. Nevertheless the SNR of normal splenic parenchyma around the lesions had obvious difference （P〈0.001） comparatively. Therefore the contrast between tumor and spleen increased, and tumor displayed more clearly. Moreover the contrast-to-noise （CNR） between VX2 tumor and splenic parenchyma had an evident difference before and after admininstration of superparamagnetic iron oxide （P〈0.001）. Conclusion： On superparamagnetic iron oxide enhancement T1WI sequence the contrast of tumor-to-spleen is poor. Therefore it is not sensitive to characterize the lesions in spleen. On superparamagnetic iron oxide enhanced T2WI the contrast degree of lesions increases obviously. Consequently, superparamagnetic iron oxide -enhanced T2WI MRI scanning can improve the rate of detection and characterization for lesions of spleen.

Difference of anterior and posterior orbital development in patients with congenital microphthalmia:a retrospective cohort study from China

AIM:To evaluate volume differences between anterior and posterior orbit and demographic characteristics of Chinese patients with congenital microphthalmia.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study,involving 169 unilateral congenital microphthalmia patients aged between 1 and 57 years old was conducted.Three-dimensional images of the orbit were generated from past CT scans,and digital orbital volume comprehensive measurement was done.The measured data included orbital volume(OBV),posterior orbital volume(POV),orbital width(OBW),orbital height(OBH),orbital depth(OBD),and posterior orbital area ratio.RESULTS:Significant differences were observed among OBV,POV,OBW,OBH,and OBD of the affected and unaffected eyes in different age-based groups(all P<0.001).Among them,OBH had the greatest different.The mean microphthalmic to contralateral ratio(MCR) of OBV,POV,OBW,and OBH continuously increased from 1 to 3 years old,whereas the MCR of POV decreased from 3 to 17 years old.The MCR of OBD was not found to be correlated to age.There was no significant difference between OBV,POV,OBW,and OBH in ages from 13 years old to adulthood(all P>0.05).The difference in posterior orbital area ratio between the affected and unaffected groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:OBH is maximally affected,whereas OBD is minimally affected by microphthalmia.Posterior orbital retardation began 2y prior to orbital retardation and occurred at 3 years old in the affected eye,suggesting that intervention therapy should be done before the age of 4.

A cadaveric breast cancer tissue phantom for phase-contrast X-ray imaging applications

Background:As mammography X-ray imaging technologies advance and provide elevated contrast in soft tissues,a need has developed for reliable imaging phantoms for use in system design and component calibration.In advanced imaging modalities such as refraction-based methods,it is critical that developed phantoms capture the biological details seen in clinical precancerous and cancerous cases while minimizing artifacts that may be caused due to phantom production.This work presents the fabrication of a breast tissue imaging phantom from cadaveric breast tissue suitable for use in both transmission and refraction-enhanced imaging systems.Methods:Human cancer cell tumors were grown orthotopically in nude athymic mice and implanted into the fixed tissue while maintaining the native tumor/adipose tissue interface.Results:The resulting human–murine tissue hybrid phantom was mounted on a clear acrylic housing for absorption and refraction X-ray imaging.Digital breast tomosynthesis was also performed.Conclusion:Both attenuation-based imaging and refraction-based imaging of the phantom are presented to confirm the suitability of this phantom's use in both imaging modalities.

Association between the Lung Immune Prognostic Index and mortality in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy-associated interstitial lung disease

Objective:To explore the association between the Lung Immune Prognostic Index(LIPI)and 1-year all-cause mortality in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy related interstitial lung disease(IIM-ILD).Methods:Patients who were diagnosed with IIM-ILD at West China Hospital,Sichuan University from January 2008 to December 2021 were retrospectively included and categorized into three groups based on LIPI.Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were conducted to explore potential association between the LIPI and patients'mortality.Results:A total of 1116 patients were screened,and 830 were included in this study.The multivariable Cox analysis showed that,compared with patients with poor LIPI,the hazard ratio(HR)for all-cause 1-year mortality was 0.22(95%CI 0.05-0.93,P=0.04)for patients in the good LIPI group(LDH<250 IU/L and dNLR<3).After excluding patients lost to follow-up within one year,a similar result was found for LIPI(HR 0.20,95%CI 0.05-0.86;P=0.03).Conclusions:Good LIPI was independently associated with decreased risk of all-cause 1-year mortality in patients with IIM-ILD.This easy-to-obtain index might be served as a potential marker for assessing the prognosis of IIM-ILD.

Primary Cutaneous Apocrine Carcinoma of the Neck Involving the Parotid Gland: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma (PCAC) is a rare skin malignant tumor that originates from areas with a high concentration of apocrine glands. The incidence of PCAC in the neck is relatively low. The age of onset in PCAC ranges from 5 to 70 years old. Clinically, PCAC typically shows up as painless nodules or lumps. In immunohistochemistry, positive expression of CK-7, GCDFP-15, AR, and myoepithelial markers are helpful in the diagnosis of PCAC. This case report pertains to a 59-year-old male of Asian descent. Five years ago, a painless mass was discovered behind his right ear, which grew slowly. This patient was identified as PCAC based on clinical symptoms, pathology, immunohistochemistry, and imaging characteristics. PCAC involved the parotid gland in this case;it is easy to be misdiagnosed as a primary malignant tumor of the parotid gland on imaging. Furthermore, a thorough set of clinical, imaging, pathological, and immunohistochemical examinations must be performed to make a diagnosis because it is challenging to differentiate PCAC from metastatic breast carcinoma. Conclusion: A well-developed multidisciplinary examination is essential because PCAC can be challenging to diagnose and differentiate.

密度指数：形状指数在描述三维图像时的推广

针对将形状指数(SI)应用于三维图像时缺乏对应的推广形式,常通过计算三维图像的3个截面的SI来组合表达,导致在肠道肿瘤检测等应用中造成了大量的误检的问题,研究了三维情形SI的推广.首先选取球坐标系表达的单位球面以消除灰度变化尺度的影响;然后分析了球面的6个等价区域,并选取其一作为灰度变化的表征区域;由于SI原有的表达式不利于推广到三维空间,因此推导了一种等价的表达式,并通过分析此表达式在三维情形的推广,得到了描述三维图像局部灰度变化的指标——密度指数(DI).通过研究DI所表征区域的几何特性,得到了一条具有重要性质的曲线——逆Z线,并分析了其上典型特征点所对应的灰度变化模式.仿真实验结果表明,对于肠道肿瘤检测的典型情况,使用DI检测的误检率明显低于SI.

Application of 3D reconstruction for surgical treatment of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis

AIM: To evaluate the reliability and accuracy of threedimensional(3D) reconstruction for liver resection in patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis(HAE).METHODS: One-hundred and six consecutive patients with HAE underwent hepatectomy at our hospital between May 2011 and January 2015. Fifty-nine patients underwent preoperative 3D reconstruction and "virtual" 3D liver resection before surgery(Group A). Another 47 patients used conventional imaging methods for preoperative assessment(Group B). Outcomes of hepatectomy were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative data between the two groups. Compared with patients in Group B, those in Group A had a significantly shorter operation time(227.1 ± 51.4 vs 304.6 ± 88.1 min; P < 0.05), less intraoperative blood loss(308.1 ± 135.4 vs 458.1 ± 175.4 m L; P < 0.05), and lower requirement for intraoperative blood transfusion(186.4 ± 169.6 vs 289.4 ± 199.2 m L; P < 0.05). Estimated resection liver volumes in bothgroups had good correlation with actual graft weight(Group A: r = 0.978; Group B: r = 0.960). There was a significant higher serum level of albumin in Group A(26.3 ± 5.9 vs 22.6 ± 4.3 g/L, P < 0.05). Other postoperative laboratory parameters(serum levels of aminotransferase and bilirubin; prothrombin time) and duration of postoperative hospital stay were similar. Sixteen complications occurred in Group A and 19 in Group B. All patients were followed for 3-46(mean, 17.3) mo. There was no recurrence of lesions in Group A, but two recurrences in Group B. There were three deaths: two from cerebrovascular accident, and one from car accident.CONCLUSION: 3D reconstruction provides comprehensive and precise anatomical information for the liver. It also improves the chance of success and reduces the risk of hepatectomy in HAE.

T2* magnetic resonance imaging of the liver in thalassemic patients in Iran

AIM: To investigate the accuracy of T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI T2*) in the evaluation of iron overload in beta-thalassemia major patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 210 patients with beta-thalassemia major having regular blood transfusions were consecutively enrolled. Serum ferritin levels were measured, and all patients underwent MRI T2* of the liver. Liver biopsy was performed in 53 patients at an interval of no longer than 3 mo after the MRIT2* in each patient. The amount of iron was assessed in both MRI T2* and liver biopsy specimens of each patient. RESULTS: Patients’ ages ranged from 8 to 54 years with a mean of 24.59 ± 8.5 years. Mean serum ferritin level was 1906 ± 1644 ng/mL. Liver biopsy showed a moderate negative correlation with liver MRI T2* (r = -0.573, P = 0.000) and a low positive correlation with ferritin level (r = 0.350, P = 0.001). Serum ferritin levels showed a moderate negative correlation with liver MRI T2* values (r = -0.586, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that MRI T2* is a non-invasive, safe and reliable method for detecting iron load in patients with iron overload.

Diagnostic value of two dimensional shear wave elastography combined with texture analysis in early liver fibrosis

BACKGROUND Staging diagnosis of liver fibrosis is a prerequisite for timely diagnosis and therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.In recent years,ultrasound elastography has become an important method for clinical noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis stage,but its diagnostic value for early liver fibrosis still needs to be further improved.In this study,the texture analysis was carried out on the basis of two dimensional shear wave elastography(2D-SWE),and the feasibility of 2D-SWE plus texture analysis in the diagnosis of early liver fibrosis was discussed.AIM To assess the diagnostic value of 2D-SWE combined with textural analysis in liver fibrosis staging.METHODS This study recruited 46 patients with chronic hepatitis B.Patients underwent 2DSWE and texture analysis;Young's modulus values and textural patterns were obtained,respectively.Textural pattern was analyzed with regard to contrast,correlation,angular second moment(ASM),and homogeneity.Pathological results of biopsy specimens were the gold standard;comparison and assessment of the diagnosis efficiency were conducted for 2D-SWE,texture analysis and their combination.RESULTS 2D-SWE displayed diagnosis efficiency in early fibrosis,significant fibrosis,severe fibrosis,and early cirrhosis(AUC>0.7,P<0.05)with respective AUC values of 0.823(0.678-0.921),0.808(0.662-0.911),0.920(0.798-0.980),and 0.855(0.716-0.943).Contrast and homogeneity displayed independent diagnosis efficiency in liver fibrosis stage(AUC>0.7,P<0.05),whereas correlation and ASM showed limited values.AUC of contrast and homogeneity were respectively 0.906(0.779-0.973),0.835(0.693-0.930),0.807(0.660-0.910)and 0.925(0.805-0.983),0.789(0.639-0.897),0.736(0.582-0.858),0.705(0.549-0.883)and 0.798(0.650-0.904)in four liver fibrosis stages,which exhibited equivalence to 2D-SWE in diagnostic efficiency(P>0.05).Combined diagnosis(PRE)displayed diagnostic efficiency(AUC>0.7,P<0.01)for all fibrosis stages with respective AUC of 0.952(0.841-0.994),0.896(0.766-0.967),0.978(0.881-0.999),0.947(0.835-0.992).The combined diagnosis showed higher diagnosis efficiency over 2D-SWE in early liver fibrosis(P<0.05),whereas no significant differences were observed in other comparisons(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Texture analysis was capable of diagnosing liver fibrosis stage,combined diagnosis had obvious advantages in early liver fibrosis,liver fibrosis stage might be related to the hepatic tissue hardness distribution.

Acupuncture inhibits cue-induced heroin craving and brain activation

Previous research using functional MRI has shown that specific brain regions associated with drug dependence and cue-elicited heroin craving are activated by environmental cues. Craving is an important trigger of heroin relapse, and acupuncture may inhibit craving. In this study, we performed functional MRI in heroin addicts and control subjects. We compared differences in brain activation between the two groups during heroin cue exposure, heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point （ST36） without twirling of the needle, and heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle. Heroin cue exposure elicited significant activation in craving-related brain regions mainly in the frontal lobes and callosal gyri. Acupuncture without twirling did not significantly affect the range of brain activation induced by heroin cue exposure, but significantly changed the extent of the activation in the heroin addicts group. Acupuncture at the Zusanli point with twirling of the needle significantly decreased both the range and extent of activation induced by heroin cue exposure compared with heroin cue exposure plus acupuncture without twirling of the needle. These experimental findings indicate that presentation of heroin cues can induce activation in craving-related brain regions, which are involved in reward, learning and memory, cognition and emotion. Acupuncture at the Zusanli point can rapidly suppress the activation of specific brain regions related to craving, supporting its potential as an intervention for drug craving.

Intraperitoneal tuberculous abscess: computed tomography features

AIM: To evaluate the computed tomography(CT) features of intraperitoneal tuberculous abscess(IPTA). METHODS: Eight patients with IPTA confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical symptoms, medical images, and surgical findings were evaluated. Involvement of the intestine, peritoneum, viscera, and lymph nodes was also assessed. RESULTS: All 8 patients had a history of abdominal discomfort for 1 to 6 mo. Physical examination revealed a palpable abdominal mass in 6 patients. Three patients had no evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis(TB). All IPTAs(11 abscesses) were seen as a multiseptated, peripherally enhanced, hypodense mass with enlarged, rim-enhanced lymph nodes. The largest abscess diameter ranged from 4.5 cm to 12.2 cm. CT showed 2 types of IPTA: Lymph node fusion and encapsulation. Of the 8 patients, one had liver tuberculosis and one had splenic and ovarian tuberculosis. Two cases showed involvement of the terminal ileum and ileocecal junction. Ascites were found in 4 cases. Three patients had peritonitis and mesenteritis. Three patients showed involvement of the omentum. Three patients had histological evidence of caseating granuloma, and 5 had histological evidence of acid-fast bacilli. CONCLUSION: CT is crucial in the detection and characterization of IPTA. Certain CT findings are necessary for correct diagnosis.

Antler stem cells and their potential in wound healing and bone regeneration

Compared to other vertebrates,the regenerative capacity of appendages in mammals is very limited.Deer antlers are an exception and can fully regenerate annually in postnatal mammals.This process is initiated by the antler stem cells(AnSCs).AnSCs can be divided into three types:(1)Antlerogenic periosteum cells(for initial pedicle and first antler formation);(2)Pedicle periosteum cells(for annual antler regeneration);and(3)Reserve mesenchyme cells(RMCs)(for rapid antler growth).Previous studies have demonstrated that AnSCs express both classic mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)and embryonic stem cells(ESCs),and are able to differentiate into multiple cell types in vitro.Thus,AnSCs were defined as MSCs,but with partial ESC attributes.Near-perfect generative wound healing can naturally occur in deer,and wound healing can be achieved by the direct injection of AnSCs or topical application of conditioned medium of AnSCs in rats.In addition,in rabbits,the use of both implants with AnSCs and cell-free preparations derived from AnSCs can stimulate osteogenesis and repair defects of bone.A more comprehensive understanding of AnSCs will lay the foundation for developing an effective clinical therapy for wound healing and bone repair.

The ralationship between fractional anisotropy value and tumor microarchitecture in late-stage rat glioma

Objective: To explore the magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging(MR-DTI) features of in the late stage of Wistar rat C6 brain glioma, and the relationship between fractional anisotropy value and tumor microarchitecture. Methods: The concentration of more than 1.0×伊 106/10 μL glioma cells and complete medium were injected stereotactically into the right caudate nucleus of the experimental group(n=35) and control group(n=10), respectively. Conventional MRI, DTI, and enhanced T1 WI scans were Performed using the GE Signa HD× 3.0T MRI scanner about 3-4 weeks after implantation for the rats. Postproeessing was done using the DTI specific software Function Tool to gain FA image. Many ROIs were drawn avoiding hemorrhage, necrosis areas in tumor parenchyma, the value of FA was recorded. Each surviving rat brain was examined histologically using HE and immunohistochemical staining for VEGF and CD34. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between FA values and VEGF, MVD, cell density, respectively. Results: A total of 35 tumor-bearing rats were confirmed the tumor formation by the subsequent MRI and pathological examination. The mean FA values of the tumor and the contralateral brain tissue were 0.17 ± 0.03 and 0.31 ± 0.05 respectively, and the difference was statistically significant(t = 12.80, P <0.05). The mean FA value of grade III glioma(n=12) was 0.16 ± 0.03, and the average FA value of grade IV glioma(n=23) was about 0.18 ± 0.04. There was no significant difference between the two groups(t= 1.92, P> 0.05). FA value in the late stage of Wistar rat C6 brain glioma has significant positive correlation to VEGF, MVD, cell density. The correlation coefficients between FA and VEGF, MVD, and cell density were 0.67, 0.65 and 0.71(P<0.05), respectively. Conclusions: The FA value of rat glioma tumor in the late stage can preoperatively provide an accurate, reliable and noninvasive imaging monitoring method to evaluate the microstructure of glioma( cell density, the extent of angiogenesis, fiber bundle integrity and tumor cell infiltration and so on), predict the biological behavior of the tumor and make out surgical plan.