Predicting Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Using CCTA-Based Radiomics Machine Learning Nomogram.

BACKGROUND: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a well-established non-invasive diagnostic test for the assessment of coronary artery diseases (CAD). CCTA not only provides information on luminal stenosis but also permits non-invasive assessment and quantitative measurement of stenosis based on radiomics. PURPOSE: This study is aimed to develop and validate a CT-based radiomics machine learning for predicting chronic myocardial ischemia (MIS). METHODS: CCTA and SPECT-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) of 154 patients with CAD were retrospectively analyzed and 94 patients were diagnosed with MIS. The patients were randomly divided into two sets: training (n = 107) and test (n = 47). Features were extracted for each CCTA cross-sectional image to identify myocardial segments. Multivariate logistic regression was used to establish a radiomics signature after feature dimension reduction. Finally, the radiomics nomogram was built based on a predictive model of MIS which in turn was constructed by machine learning combined with the clinically related factors. We then validated the model using data from 49 CAD patients and included 18 MIS patients from another medical center. The receiver operating characteristic curve evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the nomogram based on the training set and was validated by the test and validation set. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to validate the clinical practicability of the nomogram. RESULTS: The accuracy of the nomogram for the prediction of MIS in the training, test and validation sets was 0.839, 0.832, and 0.816, respectively. The diagnosis accuracy of the nomogram, signature, and vascular stenosis were 0.824, 0.736 and 0.708, respectively. A significant difference in the number of patients with MIS between the high and low-risk groups was identified based on the nomogram (P < .05). The DCA curve demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically feasible. CONCLUSION: The radiomics nomogram constructed based on the image of CCTA act as a non-invasive tool for predicting MIS that helps to identify high-risk patients with coronary artery disease.

Danggui Niantong granules ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis by regulating intestinal flora and promoting mitochondrial apoptosis.

CONTEXT: Danggui Niantong Granules (DGNTG) are a valid and reliable traditional herbal formula, commonly used in clinical practice to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the mechanism of its effect on RA remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: An investigation of the therapeutic effects of DGNTG on RA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups: control, model, DGNTG (2.16 g/kg, gavage), methotrexate (MTX) (1.35 mg/kg, gavage) for 28 days. The morphology of synovial and ankle tissues was observed by haematoxylin-eosin staining. The responses of mitochondrial apoptosis were assessed by qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Rat faeces were analysed by 16S rRNA sequencing. RESULTS: Our results showed that DGNTG treatment reduced AI scores (7.83 ± 0.37 vs. 4.67 ± 0.47, p < 0.01) and paw volumes (7.63 ± 0.17 vs. 6.13 ± 0.11, p < 0.01) compared with the model group. DGNTG also increased the expression of Bax (0.34 ± 0.03 vs. 0.73 ± 0.03, p < 0.01), cytochrome c (CYTC) (0.24 ± 0.02 vs. 0.64 ± 0.01, p < 0.01) and cleaved caspase-9 (0.24 ± 0.04 vs. 0.83 ± 0.08, p < 0.01), and decreased bcl-2 (1.70 ± 0.11 vs. 0.60 ± 0.09, p < 0.01) expression. DGNTG treatment regulated the structure of gut microbiota. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: DGNTG ameliorated RA by promoting mitochondrial apoptosis, which may be associated with regulating gut microbiota structure. DGNTG can be used as a supplement and alternative drug for the treatment of RA; its ability to prevent RA deserves further study.

Correlations between drug resistance of Beijing/W lineage clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and sublineages: a 2009-2013 prospective study in Xinjiang province, China.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in Xinjiang is higher than in other regions of China, and Beijing/W lineage Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the dominant strain of MTB in Xinjiang. However, information on multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, particularly the correlation between MDR and the Beijing/W lineage and the correlation between drug resistance and the Beijing/W sublineage strains, is limited. MATERIAL/METHODS: We conducted a prospective study to describe the prevalence of MDR/XDR TB, Beijing/W lineage and sublineage strains in Xinjiang in China from 2009 to 2013. All MTB underwent drug susceptibility testing to the first- and second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. The Beijing/W lineages and sublineages were detected by large-sequence polymorphisms with polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: A total of 410 clinical isolates were identified. The overall percentage of MDR and XDR cases in Xinjiang was 13.2% (54/410) and 13.0% (7/54), respectively. Overall, 9.8% (14/143) of the Beijing lineage MTB were MDR patients, and 15.6% (40/257) of the Non-Beijing lineage MTB were MDR patients. In the 143 Beijing MTB lineages, 11.2% isolates were in sublineage 105, 15.4% isolates were in sublineage 207, 69.2% isolates were in sublineage 181, and 4.2% isolates were in sublineage 150. None of the isolates were detected in sublineage 142. Significant differences between the Beijing/W and non-Beijing/W strains were observed regarding INH and EMB resistance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of the MDR TB in Xinjiang remains high and imposes challenges for TB control. Four Beijing/W sublineage isolates were observed in Xinjiang. There was no correlation between MDR and the Beijing/W lineage and no correlation between drug resistance and the Beijing/W sublineage strains. Surveillance of the clinical isolates of MTB is recommended to strengthen the identification of MDR/XDR TB and sublineages of the Beijing/W strains.

[Study on the vacuum ultraviolet transmittance of barium fluoride crystals at different temperature].

Two VUV-grade BaF2 windows with 0.5 mm-thick and 1 mm-thick respectively were selected to study the transmittance variety with the temperature. The results show that the cutoff wavelength of BaF2 crystals will shift towards the long wave with the increase in temperature. In a certain temperature range, BaF2 crystals can depress 130.4 nm radiation well, and also has a high transmittance at 135.6 nm. Compared with the reported method in which SrF2 crystals can be applied to suppress 130.4 nm stray light by heating, BaF2 crystal can inhibit the 130. 4 nm emission line completely, and thus reduce the power consumption of the device at the same time. This indicates that BaF2 crystals can play an important role in the ionosphere optical remote sensing detection.

Evaluating the efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty using quantitative analysis of SPECT pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) ventilation perfusion imaging is the main imaging method for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, and its application in the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has been paid more and more attention. In recent years, with the development of computer software technology, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging quantitative analysis technology has become more and more mature. The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of quantitative analysis of pulmonary V/Q scintigraphy in evaluating the efficacy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in patients with CTEPH. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we collected data of patients diagnosed with CTEPH who underwent BPA at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from April 2018 to September 2020. The sample consisted of 23 males and 28 females, with an average age of 55.1±12.7 years. All patients underwent V/Q scintigraphy within one week before surgery, and we reviewed the pulmonary angiography within 1-3 months following the last BPA procedure. We repeated V/Q scintigraphy within 1 week before or after the pulmonary angiography, at the time of collecting clinical and hemodynamic parameters of these patients. We divided the patients into two groups based on the presence of residual pulmonary hypertension post-surgery and compared the pre- and post-operative quantitative pulmonary perfusion defect percentage scores (PPDs%) using the t-test. Results: In all, 102 V/Q scintigraphy scans were performed in 51 patients. The quantitative PPDs% were positively correlated with the hemodynamic indexes mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and mean right ventricular pressure (RVP) (r=0.605, 0.391, and 0.464, respectively, all P<0.001) and negatively correlated with the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) (r=-0.254, P=0.010). The average preoperative quantitative PPDs% were (49.0±15.6)% which significantly decreased to (33.5±13.9)% after surgery (t=11.249, P<0.001). The preoperative quantitative PPDs% were (54.7±15.7)% and (44.0±13.8)% in the residual pulmonary hypertension group and the non-residual pulmonary hypertension group, respectively (t=2.599, P=0.012). The postoperative quantitative PPDs% were (41.5±12.5)% and (26.3±11.0)%, in the residual pulmonary hypertension group and the non-residual pulmonary hypertension group, respectively (t=4.647, P<0.001). Conclusions: In this study, we found that quantitative analysis of SPECT pulmonary V/Q scintigraphy adequately reflected the pulmonary artery pressure and clinical status in patients with CTEPH. Our results demonstrate its definite utility in predicting residual pulmonary hypertension and in evaluating the postoperative efficacy of BPA in patients with CTEPH.

Net financial benefits of averting HIV infections among people who inject drugs in Urumqi, Xinjiang, Peoples Republic of China (2005-2010).

BACKGROUND: To quantify the contribution of locally implemented prevention programmes in contributing to reductions in treatment and care costs by averting HIV infections among those who inject drugs this study calculates net financial benefit of providing harm reduction programmes using information from services being implemented in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China ( between 2005 and 2010). METHODS: Information was collected to assess cost of providing methadone treatment (MMT) and needle and syringe programmes (NSP). HIV incidence was estimated among people who inject drugs (PWID). HIV infections averted were calculated. Net benefit was assessed by estimating costs of providing prevention programmes and comparing these to the costs of providing care. RESULTS: An estimated 5678 (range 3982-7599) HIV infections were averted between 2005 and 2010 and the net financial benefit of providing harm reduction programmes compared to treatment and care costs for HIV infections averted was USD 4.383 million during the same time period. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the net and accumulating benefit of investing in harm reduction programmes for PWID in Urumqi. The return on investment progressively increased during the time period studied and it is clear that these cost savings will continue to accrue with the continued implementation of HIV prevention interventions in the community that include harm reduction programmes targeted at PWID.

Gross tumor volume delineation in primary prostate cancer on 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/MRI and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the clinical value of 18F-PSMA-1007 and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI in the gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation of radiotherapy for prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: Sixty-nine patients were retrospectively enrolled (57 in the 18F subgroup and 12 in the 68Ga subgroup). Three physicians delineated the GTV and tumor length by the visual method and threshold method with thresholds of 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% SUVmax. The volume correlation and differences in GTVs were assessed. The dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was applied to estimate the spatial overlap between GTVs. For 51 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy, the tumor length (Lpath) of the maximum area was measured, and compared with the longest tumor length obtained based on the images (LMRI, LPET/MRI, LPET, LPET30%, LPET40%, LPET50%, LPET60%) to determine the best delineation method. RESULTS: In the 18F subgroup, (1) GTV-PET/MRI (p < 0.001) was significantly different from the reference GTV-MRI. DSC between them was > 0.7. (2) GTV-MRI (R2 = 0.462, p < 0.05) was the influencing factor of DSC. In the 68Ga subgroup, (1) GTV-PET/MRI (p < 0.05) was significantly different from the reference GTV-MRI. DSC between them was > 0.7. (2) There was a significant correlation between GTV-MRI (r = 0.580, p < 0.05) and DSC. The longest tumor length measured by PET/MRI was in good agreement with that measured by histopathological analysis in both subgroups. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to visually delineate GTV on PSMA PET/MRI in PCa radiotherapy, and we emphasize the utility of PET/MRI fusion images in GTV delineation. In addition, the overlap degree was the highest between GTV-MRI and GTV-PET/MRI, and it increased with increasing volume.

A Feasibility Study on Using Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Pulmonary Perfusion/Ventilation Imaging for the Diagnosis of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension and Patient Risk Assessment.

OBJECTIVE: The study is designed to evaluate the diagnostic ability of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) pulmonary ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and investigate its feasibility in assessing patient risk. METHODS: A total of 83 patients suspected of having CTEPH who received V/Q tomography were retrospectively analyzed. The consistency between SPECT V/Q imaging and pulmonary angiography was compared to investigate the correlation between the percentage of pulmonary perfusion defect score (PPDs%) and the hemodynamic indices. Patients were grouped according to the pulmonary arterial hypertension risk stratification, and the V/Q imaging results were compared between different groups. RESULTS: For the 1494 pulmonary segments of the 83 patients, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of identifying pulmonary segments with defects using V/Q imaging was 87.05%, 82.78% (668/807), and 84.74% (1266/1494), respectively. The average PPDs% (58.8 ± 12.6%) was positively correlated with the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and right ventricular pressure (RVP; r =0.316, 0.318, and 0.432, respectively; P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with the six-minute walk distance (6MWD; r = -0.309; P < 0.05). There were 37 patients in the low-risk group and 46 in the medium-high-risk group. The number of pulmonary segments with perfusion defects (NPSPDs) and PPDs% were higher in the medium-high risk than in the low-risk group (t = -6.721, -5.032; P < 0.05). In the low- and medium-high-risk groups, the cut-off values for the NPSPDs (7.2 ± 2.1 and 10.2 ± 2.0) and PPDs% (51.9 ± 11.1% and 64.3 ± 11.1%,) were 8.5 and 61.25%, respectively. CONCLUSION: SPECT V/Q imaging achieved an accurate diagnosis of CTEPH. The semi-quantitative analysis index (PPDs%) was correlated with the hemodynamic indices and 6MWD. SPECT V/Q could be used for the preoperative risk assessment of patients with CTEPH.

Evaluation of Hybrid PET/MRI for Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) Delineation in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Hybrid PET/MRI has been increasingly incorporated into the practice of radiation oncologists since it contains both anatomical and biological data and may bring about personalized radiation plans for each patient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of GTV delineation from hybrid PET/MRI compared with that from current-practice MRI during radiotherapy planning in patients with colorectal liver metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients (thirty lesions) with colorectal liver metastases were prospectively enrolled in this study. Three physicians delineated the target volume with the most popular delineating methods-the visual method. First of all, differences among the three observers were assessed. The difference and correlation of GTV values obtained by MRI, PET, and hybrid PET/MRI were subjected to statistical analysis afterwards. Finally, the dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was calculated to assess the spatial overlap. Based on the value of DSC, we also evaluate the correlation between DSC and tumor size. GTV-MRI was set as a reference. RESULTS: There was no significant difference among observers in GTV-MRI (F=0.118, p=0.889), GTV-PET (F=0.070, p=0.933) and GTV-PET/MRI (F=0.40, p=0.961). 83.33% of GTV-PET/MRI and 63.33% of GTV-PET were larger than the reference GTV-MRI. Statistical analysis revealed that GTV-PET/MRI (p<0.001) and GTV-PET (p<0.05) diverged statistically significantly from GTV-MRI. GTV-PET (r=0.992, p<0.001) and GTV-PET/MRI (r=0.997, p<0.001) were significantly related to GTV-MRI. The average DSC value between GTV-MRI and GTV-PET was 0.51 (range 0-0.90) and that between GTV-MRI and GTV-PET/MRI was 0.72 (range 0.42-0.90). There was a positive correlation between the DSC and GTV-MRI (r=0.851, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: With the database used, there is good agreement among observers. Hybrid PET/MRI in colorectal liver metastases radiotherapy may affect the GTV delineation. Moreover, the overlap degree between GTV-MRI and GTV-PET/MRI is higher and increases with volume.

Amyloid PET in Dementia Syndromes: A Chinese Multicenter Study.

Cerebral ß-amyloid deposits and regional glucose metabolism assessed by PET are used to distinguish between Alzheimer disease (AD) and other dementia syndromes. In the present multicenter study, we estimated the prevalence of ß-amyloid deposits on PET imaging in a wide variety of dementia syndromes and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within a memory clinic population. Methods: Of the 1,193 consecutive patients with cognitive impairment (CI) who received 1 11C-PIB PET or 18F-AV45 PET or both 11C-PIB PET and 18F-AV45 PET, 960 were diagnosed with AD, 36 with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), 5 with dementia with Lewy bodies, 144 with MCI, 29 with vascular dementia, 4 with corticobasal syndrome, and 15 with unclassifiable dementia. Baseline clinical diagnoses were independently established without access to PET imaging results. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype analysis was performed on CI patients and 231 sex- and age-matched controls. Results: Of the 1,193 CI patients, 860 (72.1%) were amyloid-positive. The prevalence of amyloid positivity in AD and MCI patients was 86.8% (833/960) and 9.7% (14/144), respectively. In FTD patients, the prevalence of ß-amyloid deposits was 5.6% (2/36). In the 4 corticobasal syndrome patients, 2 were amyloid-positive. Three of the 5 patients with dementia with Lewy bodies showed amyloid positivity, as did 6 of the 29 vascular dementia (20.7%) patients. The ApoEε4 allele frequency was significantly increased in amyloid-positive CI patients (30.5%) as compared with other amyloid-negative CI patients (14%) or controls (7.3%). Conclusion: Amyloid imaging may potentially be the most helpful parameter for differential diagnosis in dementia, particularly to distinguish between AD and FTD. Amyloid PET can be used in conjunction with the ApoEε4 allele genetic risk test for amyloid deposits.

Dynamic neural responses to cue-reactivity paradigms in heroin-dependent users: an fMRI study.

Neuroimaging methods have been employed to study cue-reactivity-induced neural correlates in the human brain. However, very few studies have focused on characterizing the dynamic neural responses to the factorial interactions between the cues and the subjects. Fifteen right-handed heroin-dependent subjects and 12 age-matched nondrug using subjects participated in this study. Cue-reactivity paradigms were employed, while changes in blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals were acquired by functional MRI (fMRI). The fMRI datasets were analyzed with AFNI software and repeated two-way ANOVA was employed for factorial analyses. Neural correlates of factorial interactions between cue-factor and subject-factor were identified in the regions of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the left and right amygdala, the left and right fusiform cortex, and the precuneus in the mesocorticolimbic system, and in the superior frontal, dorsal lateral prefrontal, and orbitofrontal cortices in the prefrontal cortex system. The neural response patterns in the prefrontal systems are dynamic: decreased response to neutral-cues and increased response to heroin-cues. Further, heroin-cue-induced neural responses within the subregions in the PFC system are significantly intercorrelated. In conclusion, the cue-reactivity paradigms significantly activated the dynamic neural activations in the prefrontal system. It is suggested that the dynamic response patterns in the PFC system characterize the impaired brain control functions in heroin-dependent subjects.

[Epidemiological study of high risk human papillomavirus infection in 25 to 54 years old married women in Beijing.].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) prevalence among married women in Beijing and to study the high risk factors. METHODS: During March 2007 to September 2008, a total of 6185 married women sampled from 137 communities in 12 districts were screened by HR-HPV DNA test and cytological test. The interview was carried out with unified questionnaires. The database was set up and twice entered in EpiData 3.0. After checked up, the data were analyzed in SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: (1) The HR-HPV infection rate was 9.89%. The HR-HPV infection rate of the city zone, the suburb and the exurb were 9.34%, 10.51% and 9.51% (P > 0.05). The HR-HPV infection rate of the native and the outlander were 9.53%, 11.30% (P < 0.05). (2) The age distribution of HR-HPV infection was that the rate was around 10% among 25 to 44 age groups, which was the highest (11.21%) in 30 to 34 age group; then the rate was descended as the age raising, the rate of 50 to 54 age group was the lowest (7.78%). (3) Multiple logistic regression showed that the related risk factors of HR-HPV infection mainly included 1000 RMB and above of family income per person per month, possessing more than 1 sexual partner of her husband, outlander and high levels of education. (4) The prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in HR-HPV positive group was significantly higher than that in HR-HPV negative group (29.76% vs 3.32%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: (1) The HR-HPV infection rate among aged 25 to 54 years was 9.9% and there was no significant difference in area distribution. (2) The high risk population which should strengthen screening was the married bearing-age women with high level of family income, outlander, high levels of education and her husband possessing more than 1 sexual partner. (3) HR-HPV infection is the main risk factor for CIN and cervical cancer, while does not provide a causal relationship with them. The high risk population should be checked regularly to understand the development of HR-HPV infection and CIN incidence.

[Spectral response measurement of FUV image intensifier].

It is possible to obtain some space weather parameters such as the electron flux and mean energy of the precipitating electrons from the far ultraviolet (FUV) radiance of the aurora observed in a nadir viewing geometry, and the FUV image intensifier is one of the key equipment that used for observation the FUV radiance of the aurora in a nadir viewing geometry. The capability of this equipment will affect the whole purpose of the detection. And the responsibility to the wavelength is the most important parameter of image intensifier. Using the VUV beamline f rom synchrotron radiation as optical source, with PMT and Si-photodiode to detect the optical signal from synchrotron radiation and image intensifier separately, the authors measured the relatively spectral response distribution of our FUV image intensifier from 135 to 250 nm. The measurement result shows that the equipment can work well between 140 and 190 nm and the peak response is near 160 nm, and it can be used for our FUV aurora camera.

[Prognostic Value of Interim PET/CT in 227 Patients of DLBCL].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic evaluation value of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) interim positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-seven patients with pathologically diagnosed DLBCL underwent 18F-FDG scans at baseline and before 3 cycles of a rituximab-containing chemotherapy regimen. The Visual Deauville score (DS) and changes in maximum standard uptake values (ΔSUVmax) were calculated for tracer for the predominant lesion of each patient, for prediction of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) using Kaplan-Meier method and COX regression. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 71 months. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the best ΔSUV cut-off values for FDG (ΔSUVFDG) was 71%. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of DS and ΔSUVmax were 86.9%, 74.3%, 82.8% and 77.8%, 63.5%, 73.1%, respectively in response assessment. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed DS, ΔSUVmax and IPI had significance for prediction of PFS and OS (P = 0.001). The DS 4-5 and IPI 3-5 were independent risk factors of poor prognosis by COX regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Interim PET/CT is important predictor for evaluation therapeutic response and prognosis in DLBCL patients.

Impaired response inhibition function in abstinent heroin dependents: an fMRI study.

Heroin, like various illicit substances, has a negative impact on the frontal cognitive function after repeated abuse. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural substrates of response inhibition and competition in 18 healthy controls and assess the frontal neurocognition in 30 abstinent heroin dependents (AHD) as they performed a Go/NoGo Association task with reaction times recorded spontaneously. The neural response which was induced by response inhibition was prominent in the midline structure, specifically the bilateral medial prefrontal gyrus and anterior cingulated cortex, as well as the left middle frontal gyrus, insula, bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and limbic system. Unlike drug-naïve controls, only the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus were activated in AHD. Furthermore, the RT of AHD was significantly longer than that of controls. The results suggest that: (1) the ACC, mPFC and inferior frontal lobe play an important role in response inhibition and competition; (2) heroin dependents had an impaired response inhibition function that lasted even months into abstinence, which indicates that the negative effect of heroin on the inhibitory function still continues in early protracted withdrawal state.

Therapeutic approach for the cesarean scar pregnancy.

The aim of this study was to explore the pros and cons of different treatments of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).We retrospectively studied 205 cases of CSP that were treated in our hospital from June 2013 to June 2014, 189 of which had surgical operation.The average age of the patients was (32.98 ±â€Š4.56) years. Data from those 189 cases were analyzed.Two hundred five patients from Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital.One hundred eighty-nine cases who had operative treatment, 111 of which received curettage under hysteroscopy, 70 of which received curettage under ultrasonography, 8 of which received laparoscopic Cesarean scar resection.Management of 189 ectopic Cesarean scar pregnancy cases discussed in this article was usage of methotrexate (MTX) via the utility of uterine arterial chemotherapy embolization (UACE).All of 189 patients were cured without hysterectomy. Hysteroscopy provides a clear view for us, making it easy to identify the range of affected tissues, and clean the pregnancy tissue. Curettage under ultrasonography is relatively simple and inexpensive. Laparoscopic surgery is more suitable for exogenous CSP patients that can reduce the operation risk and prevent uterine perforation. However, laparoscopic surgery costs much more than those 2 and needs longer time of hospitalization.Treatment options should be personalized according to different situations. Minimal invasion, thorough treatment, quick recovery, low risk of hysterectomy, preserved fertility function, and improved life quality are the principles we have been pursuing for.

[Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Dexamethasone Combined with Bortezomib and Thalidomide for Treating Patients with Multiple Myeloma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy and safety of dexamethasone of different doses combined with bortezomib and thalidomide for treatment of primary multiple myeloma. METHODS: Ninety-six patients with multiple myeloma from January 2013 to January 2014 were randomly divided into group A (high-dose dexamethasone + bortezomib + thalidomide, 32 cases), group B (low-dose dexamethasone + bortezomib + thalidomide, 32 cases) and group C (placebo + bortezomib + thalidomide, 32 cases). The clinical efficacy and safety of patients was compared among 3 groups. RESULTS: The overall remission rate (ORR) in group A and B was significantly higher than that in group C (P<0.05), but the ORR was not significant difference between group A and group B (P>0.05). After treatment, the KPS and RNS score in 3 groups were significantly higher and lower than those before treatment, respectively; the KPS score in group A and B was significantly higher than that in group C (P<0.05), the RNS score in group A and B was significantly lower C (P<0.05). After treatment, the positive expression rates of CD38, CD56 and CD138 as well as small residual lesion (SRL) positive rate in 3 grops were significantly lower than those before treatment, but the positive expression rate of CD19 was significantly higher that before treatment; the positive expression rates of CD38, CD56 and CD138 as well as SRL positive rate in group A and B were significantly lower thant those in group C, while the positive expression rate of CD19 was significantly higher that in group C (P<0.05), but the positive expression rates of CD19, CD38, CD56 and CD138 as well as SRL positive rate were not significantly different between group A and B (P>0.05). The incidence of fatigue, rash, peripheral neuropathy, anlmia, granulocyte deficiance and so on in group B and C was significantly lower than that in group A(P<0.05), but the difference in group B and C was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic efficacy of different doses of dexamethasone combined with bortezomib and thalidomide for patients with multiple myeloma is similar, can obviously enhance remission rate, prolong the survival time, promote life quality, but the incidence of adverse reactions in low dose dexamethason rigemen is significantly reduced, and the safety is better.

Multi-modality molecular imaging characteristics of dementia with Lewy bodies.

Objective Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a common type of neurodegenerative dementia. Molecular neuroimaging using dopamine transporter (DaT), Pittsburgh compound B (PIB), and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has advantages in detecting dopaminergic neuron loss, abnormal amyloid ß-protein deposition, and glucose metabolism changes in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. However, the multi-modality molecular imaging features of patients with DLB have rarely been reported. Methods Five patients with a probable diagnosis of DLB were enrolled. PET/magnetic resonance imaging was performed with three tracers: 11C-ß-CFT, 11C-PIB, and 18F-FDG. Clinical and imaging characteristics were analyzed. Results All patients with DLB showed reduced uptake in the bilateral putamen on DaT PET, increased uptake throughout the cerebral cortex on PIB PET, and intact metabolism of the posterior cingulate gyrus on FDG PET. Conclusion Multimodal molecular imaging is helpful for early diagnosis of DLB. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the molecular imaging differences between DLB and Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease dementia.

18F-FDG PET/CT in the Detection of Undifferentiated Carcinoma With Osteoclast-like Giant Cells of the Pancreas.

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells of the pancreas (UCOGCP) is a rare nonendocrine pancreatic tumor. We present a case of a very small UCOGCP. F-FDG PET/CT revealed a solid mass measuring 1.0 × 0.8 cm on CT images with an SUVmax of 5.0 in the body of the pancreas. CT revealed a solid mass with significant enhancement. The histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis. Our findings indicate F-FDG PET/CT is a useful imaging modality for UCOGCP diagnosis.