Correlation between CT images of lateral plateau and lateral meniscus injuries in patients with Schatzker II tibial plateau fractures:a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: There is a great deal of controversy on whether routine MRI examination is needed for fresh fractures while the vast majority of patients with tibial plateau fractures (TPFs) receive preoperative X-ray and CT examinations. The purpose of the study was to analyze the exact correlation between CT images of lateral plateau and lateral meniscus injuries in Schatzker II TPFs. METHODS: A total of 296 patients with Schatzker II TPFs from August 2012 to January 2021 in two trauma centers were enrolled for the analysis. According to the actual situation during open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and knee arthroscopic surgery, patients were divided into meniscus injury (including rupture, incarceration, etc.) and non-meniscus injury groups. The values of both lateral plateau depression (LPD) and lateral plateau widening (LPW) of lateral tibial plateau on CT images were measured, and their correlation with lateral meniscus injury was then analyzed. The relevant receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the optimal cut-off point of the two indicators which could predict meniscus injury. RESULTS: The intra- and inter-observer reliabilities of LPD and LPW were acceptable (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) > 0.8). The average LPD was 13.2 ± 3.2 mm while the average value of the group without meniscus injury was 9.4 ± 3.2 mm. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The average LPW was 8.0 ± 1.4 mm and 6.8 ± 1.6 mm in meniscus injury and non-meniscus injury groups with a significant difference (P < 0.05). The optimal predictive cut-off value of LPD and LPW was 7.9 mm (sensitivity-95.0%, specificity-58.8%, area under the curve (AUC-0.818) and 7.5 mm (sensitivity-70.0%, specificity - 70.6%, AUC - 0.724), respectively. The meniscus injury group mainly showed injuries involving the mid-body and posterior horn of lateral meniscus (98.1%, 157/160). CONCLUSIONS: The mid-body and posterior horn of lateral meniscus injury is more likely to occur in patients with Schatzker II TPFs when LPD > 7.9 mm and/or LPW > 7.5 mm on CT. These findings will definitely provide guidance for orthopedic surgeons in treating such injuries. During the operation, more attention is required be paid to the treatment of the meniscus and the possible fracture reduction difficulties and poor alignment caused by meniscus rupture and incarceration should be fully considered in order to achieve better surgical results.

Tumour necrosis factor-α promotes BMHSC differentiation by increasing P2X7 receptor in oestrogen-deficient osteoporosis.

The exact mechanism of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) promoting osteoclast differentiation is not completely clear. A variety of P2 purine receptor subtypes have been confirmed to be widely involved in bone metabolism. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore whether P2 receptor is involved in the differentiation of osteoclasts. Mouse bone marrow haematopoietic stem cells (BMHSCs) were co-cultured with TNF-α to explore the effect of TNF-α on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption capacity in vitro, and changes in the P2 receptor were detected at the same time. The P2 receptor was silenced and overexpressed to explore the effect on differentiation of BMHSCs into osteoclasts. In an in vivo experiment, the animal model of PMOP was established in ovariectomized mice, and anti-TNF-α intervention was used to detect the ability of BMHCs to differentiate into osteoclasts as well as the expression of the P2 receptor. It was confirmed in vitro that TNF-α at a concentration of 20 ng/mL up-regulated the P2X7 receptor of BMHSCs through the PI3k/Akt signalling pathway, promoted BMHSCs to differentiate into a large number of osteoclasts and enhanced bone resorption. In vivo experiments showed that more P2X7 receptor positive osteoclasts were produced in postmenopausal osteoporotic mice. Anti-TNF-α could significantly delay the progression of PMOP by inhibiting the production of osteoclasts. Overall, our results revealed a novel function of the P2X7 receptor and suggested that suppressing the P2X7 receptor may be an effective strategy to delay bone formation in oestrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis.

Dietary patterns interfere with gut microbiota to combat obesity.

Obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders are global epidemics that occur when there is chronic energy intake exceeding energy expenditure. Growing evidence suggests that healthy dietary patterns not only decrease the risk of obesity but also influence the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Numerous studies manifest that the development of obesity is associated with gut microbiota. One promising supplementation strategy is modulating gut microbiota composition by dietary patterns to combat obesity. In this review, we discuss the changes of gut microbiota in obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders, with a particular emphasis on the impact of dietary components on gut microbiota and how common food patterns can intervene in gut microbiota to prevent obesity. While there is promise in intervening with the gut microbiota to combat obesity through the regulation of dietary patterns, numerous key questions remain unanswered. In this review, we critically review the associations between dietary patterns, gut microbes, and obesity, aiming to contribute to the further development and application of dietary patterns against obesity in humans.

Laboratory evidence of Weibel magnetogenesis driven by temperature gradient using three-dimensional synchronous proton radiography.

The origin of the cosmic magnetic field remains an unsolved mystery, relying not only on specific dynamo processes but also on the seed field to be amplified. Recently, the diffuse radio emission and Faraday rotation observations reveal that there has been a microgauss-level magnetic field in intracluster medium in the early universe, which places strong constraints on the strength of the initial field and implies the underlying kinetic effects; the commonly believed Biermann battery can only provide extremely weak seed of 10-21 G. Here, we present evidence for the spontaneous Weibel-type magnetogenesis in laser-produced weakly collisional plasma with the three-dimensional synchronous proton radiography, where the distribution anisotropy directly arises from the temperature gradient, even without the commonly considered interpenetrating plasmas or shear flows. This field can achieve sufficient strength and is sensitive to Coulomb collision. Our results demonstrate the importance of kinetics in magnetogenesis in weakly collisional astrophysical scenarios.

Electron stochastic acceleration in laboratory-produced kinetic turbulent plasmas.

The origin of energetic charged particles in universe remains an unresolved issue. Astronomical observations combined with simulations have provided insights into particle acceleration mechanisms, including magnetic reconnection acceleration, shock acceleration, and stochastic acceleration. Recent experiments have also confirmed that electrons can be accelerated through processes such as magnetic reconnection and collisionless shock formation. However, laboratory identifying stochastic acceleration as a feasible mechanism is still a challenge, particularly in the creation of collision-free turbulent plasmas. Here, we present experimental results demonstrating kinetic turbulence with a typical spectrum k-2.9 originating from Weibel instability. Energetic electrons exhibiting a power-law distribution are clearly observed. Simulations further reveal that thermal electrons undergo stochastic acceleration through collisions with multiple magnetic islands-like structures within the turbulent region. This study sheds light on a critical transition period during supernova explosion, where kinetic turbulences originating from Weibel instability emerge prior to collisionless shock formation. Our results suggest that electrons undergo stochastic acceleration during this transition phase.

Mediastinal high-grade vasculogenic mesenchymal tumour with seminoma: a case report and literature review.

Germ cell tumours with somatic-type solid malignancy (GCT-STM) are a rare disease of the mediastinum. Recently, a cohort of vasculogenic mesenchymal tumour (VMT)-nonseminoma cases with different prognoses were recognized and reported. Here, we report a case of mediastinal high-grade VMT with a seminoma. A 16-year-old male had a fever, chest tightness and fatigue. Chest CT showed a 7.5 cm×5.3 cm solid mass in the right anterior mediastinum. The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-HCG) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were within the normal range. Tumorectomy was performed. The tumour was irregular, and no capsule was found. The cut surface was greyish white and greyish brown with medium consistency. There were foci of bleeding and necrosis. Microscopic histology showed prominent vascular proliferation, which was lined by mildly atypical endothelial cells in a cellular stroma with significant cytologic atypia. The vascular spectrum varied from crevice-like or antler-like thin- to thick-walled vessels. Beyond the tumour area, inside the remnant thymus tissues, there were small clusters of polygonal tumour cells with clear cytoplasm, distinct cell membranes, and round to polygonal nuclei with prominent nucleoli that were positive for Oct4, PLAP, SALL4 and CD117. The patient did not receive any treatments pre- or postoperation, and his condition was stable without progression after 14 months of follow-up evaluation. Here, we added a new entity of GCT-STM of the mediastinum composed of VMT and seminoma. A better understanding of the pathological features of GCT-VMT could help pathologists improve their awareness of these rare diseases.

Roles of Hippo-YAP/TAZ signalling in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), a common cartilage-degenerative disease, is considered the main cause of low back pain (LBP). Owing to the complex aetiology and pathophysiology of IVDD, its molecular mechanisms and definitive treatment of IVDD remain unclear. As an evolutionarily and functionally conserved signalling pathway, Hippo-YAP/TAZ signalling plays a crucial role in IVDD progression. In this review, we discuss the regulation of Hippo-YAP/TAZ signalling and summarise the recent research progress on its role in cartilage homeostasis and IVDD. We also discuss the current application and future prospects of IVDD treatments based on Hippo-YAP/TAZ signalling.

S-propargyl-cysteine promotes the stability of atherosclerotic plaque via maintaining vascular muscle contractile phenotype.

Introduction: Plaque rupture in atherosclerosis contributes to various acute cardiovascular events. As a new sulfide-containing donor, S-propargyl-cysteine (SPRC) has been reported to play a beneficial role in cardioprotection, potentially through its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-atherogenic activities. Our previous study observed an increase in eNOS phosphorylation in endothelial cells. However, it remains unclear whether SPRC influences vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) within the plaque and if this effect contributes to plaque stabilization. Methods: An atherosclerotic unstable plaque mouse model was established by subjecting ApoE-/- mice to tandem stenosis of the right carotid artery along with a Western diet. Daily SPRC administration was conducted for 13 weeks. Plaque morphology and stability were assessed using MRI scanning and histopathological staining. In our in vitro studies, we stimulated human artery vascular smooth muscle cells (HAVSMCs) with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), both with and without 100 µM SPRC treatment. Cell phenotype was assessed using both Western blot and Real-time PCR. Cell proliferation was assessed using the BrdU cell proliferation kit and immunofluorescence of Ki-67, while cell migration was measured using scratch wound healing and transwell assay. MiR-143-3p overexpression and knockdown experiments were used to investigate whether it mediates the effect of SPRC on VSMC phenotype. Results and Discussion: SPRC treatment reduced plasma lipid levels, increased collagen content and decreased cell apoptosis in atherosclerotic plaques, indicating improved plaque stability. Both in vivo and in vitro studies elucidated the role of SPRC in preserving the contractile phenotype of VSMCs through up-regulation of miR-143-3p expression. Furthermore, SPRC suppressed the pro-proliferation and pro-migration effects of PDGF-BB on HAVSMCs. Overall, these findings suggest that the inhibitory effect of SPRC on phenotype switch from contractile to synthetic VSMCs may contribute to its beneficial role in enhancing plaque stability.

Noncoding RNAs and Virus and Treatment in Allergic Rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a type I hypersensitivity reaction disease caused by inhaled allergens and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated. Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) is an important regulator involved in gene expression and can be detected in the cytoplasm or extracellular fluid, which mainly includes microRNAs (miRNA, length 22-24 nucleotides), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA, length >200 nucleotides), and circRNAs. LncRNA and miRNA both participate in the regulation of immune function. Some respiratory viral infections can aggravate allergic rhinitis, such as a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). However, the interaction between viral infection and allergy is complex and the mechanism is still unclear. In this review, we summarized the interactions of noncoding RNAs and viruses in the occurrence and development of AR, along with the treatments focusing on the noncoding RNAs in the past five years.

Development and application of an online learning platform for nursing ethics: A teaching practice research.

BACKGROUND: It is crucial to diversify the methods for clinical nurses to continue learning nursing ethics in that ethical decision-making ability in nursing is regarded as one of the core competencies in nursing practice. OBJECTIVE: In response to nurses' learning needs for nursing ethics, this study built an online learning platform for the pertinent topic, and tested its effect on improving nurses' ethical decision-making ability and critical thinking ability. DESIGN: A qualitative method was adopted to develop interventions, which were designed as a teaching practice research consisting of a study group and a control group. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 93 nurses, including 20 interviewees and 30 in the study group and 43 in the control group. METHOD: Qualitative methods were employed to understand the learning needs of nurses. The judgment about nursing decisions and the critical thinking disposition inventory, learning effectiveness questionnaire and learning software quality evaluation scale were used as research tools in this teaching practice research. The SPSS 25.0 was adopted to analyze data by paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test. RESULTS: In the measurement of the judgment about nursing decisions scale, the study group scored higher than the control group. The critical thinking disposition inventory scale identified a similar result in the total score incorporating the four dimensions, including analyticity, systematicity, critical thinking self-confidence, inquisitiveness. There is a correlation between learning software quality and learning effect, with a correlation coefficient of 0.640. CONCLUSION: The online learning platform of nursing ethics built in this study has positive learning effects, and it demonstrates effectiveness to improve nurses' abilities in nursing ethics, decision-making and critical thinking. It is expected to be a viable way to improve the continuity of nurses' study of ethics.

Ovariectomy-associated changes in bone mineral density and bone marrow haematopoiesis in rats.

The relationship between the bone mass loss and bone marrow haematopoiesis in osteoporosis remains obscure. We selected 3-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats and randomly divided them into six groups. Three groups were ovariectomized (OVX), while the other three groups were sham operated (Sham). Four, 8 and 12 weeks after the surgical procedure, the rats were euthanized and sampled. The left femur was used for measurement of bone mineral density (BMD). The right femur distal metaphysic cancellous bone was processed for morphological evaluation. Our results showed that the femur BMD in the 4-week OVX group was not significantly decreased compared with that of the 4-week Sham group, but that the volume of adipose tissue in the bone marrow was markedly increased. The femur BMD in the 8-week OVX group was decreased significantly compared with that of the 8-week Sham group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the volume of haematopoietic tissue decreased and the volume of adipose tissue increased. The number of megakaryocytes was decreased (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the osteoclasts and mast cells were increased in number in the 8-week OVX group (P < 0.05). These changes became obvious in the 12-week OVX rats, in contrast to the Sham groups. The volume of trabecular bone and the number of osteoblasts in the 12-week OVX group decreased significantly. Increased reticulin fibres were observed only in the 12-week OVX group. Our studies demonstrated a reciprocal correlation between bone-forming osteoblasts and marrow adipose tissue and suggest that OVX rats may be valuable as an animal model to study hypohaemopoiesis.

The role of peripheral blood, bone marrow aspirate and especially bone marrow trephine biopsy in distinguishing atypical chronic myeloid leukemia from chronic granulocytic leukemia and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

OBJECTIVES: To better realize the features of peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) aspirate and especially BM trephine biopsy in atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML). METHODS: We studied PB, BM smears in 35 cases of aCML and compared with 84 cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia chronic phase (CGL-CP), 39 cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). In addition, we evaluated characteristics of BM trephine biopsies in 21 cases of aCML and compared with 68 cases of CGL-CP, 20 cases of CMML. RESULTS: All aCML patients presented with leukocytosis (median WBC 17.3 x 10(9)/L), 48% had moderate anemia, and 85% had thrombocytopenia. Values of monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, percentage of immature granulocytes and monocytes (0.63 +/- 0.41 x 10(9)/L, 0.18 +/- 0.16 x 10(9)/L, 0.09 +/-0.08 x 10(9)/L, 6.27 +/- 3.09%, and 2.46 +/- 1.75%, respectively) were useful in distinguishing aCML from CGL-CP and CMML groups. The BM smears showed that striking dysgranulopoieis (100%), dyserythropoiesis (48.6%), percentage of blasts, nucleated erythrocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils (2.45 +/- 2.06%, 7.76 +/- 2.89%, 1.30 +/- 1.21%, 1.47 +/- 1.60%, and 1.15 +/- 1.08%, respectively) were all important parameters for a diagnosis of aCML. On BM trephine sections, aCML was characterized as hypercellularity, a moderate degree of reticulin fibrosis (71.4%), lymphocytopenia (76.2%), plasmacytopenia (90.5%), abnormal localization of immature precursors (28.5%), and absence of eosinophilia, basophilia, monocytosis. Furthermore, BM imprints, immunohistochemical, and cytochemical staining findings provided important morphological reference to BM trephine sections and made the identification of nucleated cells more convenient. CONCLUSIONS: Besides the findings observed in PB and BM aspirate, features of BM trephine biopsy (including BM trephine section, BM imprint, immunohistochemical, and cytochemical staining) can also aid in the diagnosis of aCML.

New advances in the pathogenesis and drug research of psoriasis / 药学学报

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, and inflammatory skin disease induced by multiple factors. Its typical clinical manifestation is scaly erythema or plaques, which can cause various complications such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory arthritis, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. A deep understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis is helpful to discover new therapeutic targets and develop effective new therapeutic drugs, thus having important clinical significance. This manuscript reviews the new advances in the pathogenesis and drug research of psoriasis in recent years.

Research progress of NOD2-mediated signaling pathways and relationship with autoinflammatory diseases and its inhibitors / 药学学报

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing protein 2 (NOD2) is a member of intracellular pattern recognition receptor. After being activated, it will induce the release of inflammatory factors through a series of signal cascade transduction, thus playing an important role in the innate immune response. The abnormal NOD2 signaling pathway is involved in the occurrence and development of many diseases, especially the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NOD2 gene have been identified to be closely associated with autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs). Therefore, inhibitors targeting NOD2 pathway have great potential in the treatment of inflammatory immune diseases. This review presents the recent progress of NOD2 receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways and its regulation mechanisms, the relationship between NOD2 and AIDs, and the inhibitors of NOD2 pathway.

Design and clinical application evaluation of multi-leaf collimators / 中国辐射卫生

@#Multi-leaf collimators are devices to block rays from medical linear accelerators, which directly affect doses to targets and organs at risk by adjusting field shape and dose distribution in radiation therapy. As multi-leaf collimators are diversified in structure, there has been growing research on dosimetric comparison of various multi-leaf collimators. In this paper, we introduced the classifications of multi-leaf collimators according to their basic components, as well as the hardware structure and design features of the products of main accelerator manufacturers, including Varian’s Millennium MLC, HD120 MLC, and Halcyon, Elekta’s MLCi/i2 and Agility, and Accuray’s InCise 2 MLC and TomoTherapy. In terms of clinical application evaluation, focusing on radiotherapy plans for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we reviewed comparative studies on the dosimetry performance of multi-leaf collimators and the effects of relevant parameters on dose distribution. We hope this review on the design and application evaluation of multi-leaf collimators can provide a reference for more innovative design and accelerator selection and parameter setting in clinical individualized treatment.

Progress of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with atrioventricular regurgitation / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#As the indications for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) expand, multi-valve lesions are becoming more common in clinical practice. Moderate to severe atrioventricular regurgitation, particularly when persistent after TAVR, significantly increases the risk of adverse events. Therefore, many studies have evaluated factors that contribute to the improvement of atrioventricular regurgitation. However, this field remains controversial due to the heterogeneity of retrospective studies and the lack of randomized controlled trials. Despite advances in atrioventricular valve intervention techniques, evidence for atrioventricular regurgitation intervention after TAVR is still scarce. The management decision for atrioventricular regurgitation in patients who underwent TAVR is complex and must take into account the severity of valve disease, anatomical characteristics, quality of life, and procedural complexity. We conducted a review of atrioventricular regurgitation in patients who have received TAVR in hope that it will help decision-making in clinical practice.

Construction of a novel time-specific NLRP3 transgenic mouse model by Cre-LoxP system / 中国药理学通报

Aim To construct and identify a new time-specific NLRP3 point mutation transgenic mouse model by Cre-LoxP system. Methods Cre-LoxP system was used to generate NL-RP3

Establishment of animal model of Blau syndrome / 中国药理学通报

Aim To establish stable and reliable animal models of Blau syndrome (BS) in vivo. Methods C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with muramyl dipeptide (MDP) or L18-MDP to induce systemic inflammatory model of BS. Meanwhile, positive drug etanercept (ETN) was set to investigate the response of the model to evaluate effectiveness. SD rats were intravitrealiy injected with MDP to establish BS-associated uveitis model. Serum levels of TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-8 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histopathologic al changes of rat eyeballs were detected by HE staining and the expressions of p65, p-ERK, p-p38, p-JNK, TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-8 in vitreous were determined by immunohistochem-istry (IHC) staining. Results The serum level of TNF-a in mice increased after intraperitoneal injection of MDP (P < 0.05), and increased significantly after L18-MDP injection (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were also markedly induced by L18-MDP (P < 0. 01, P < 0. 01). ETN treatment evidently inhibited the increased levels of these above cytokines induced by L18-MDP (P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01). After the intravitreous injection of MDP in SD rats, there were numerous inflammatory cells infiltrated in retina and vitreous, and the retina was seriously damaged. The staining levels of p65, p-ERK, p-p38, p-JNK, TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-8 in eyeball tissues were significantly enhanced. Conclusions The systemic animal model of BS can be successfully established by intraperitoneal injection of L18-MDP in C57BL/6J mice, and the good BS-relat-ed uveitis can be induced by intravitreous injection of MDP in SD rats, which provides the simple, convenient, repeatable and i-deal animal models for exploring the pathogenesis of BS and e-valuating the efficacy of drugs.

The effect of CT detector width and signal acquisition positions on image quality / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the influence of different detector widths and signal acquisition positions of wide-detector CT in different scanning modes on CT number and noise, and to provide a basis for reasonable selection of scanning modes and related parameters in clinical practice.Methods:The body dose phantom was scanned by GE Revolution CT. The scan was performed with detector widths of 40, 80 and 160 mm in sequential scanning mode and with detector width/pitch combinations of 40 mm/0.516, 40 mm/0.984, 80 mm/0.508 and 80 mm/0.992 in spiral scanning mode. The phantom was placed at the central and peripheral of the selected detector widths, and the adjacent positions between two axial scans. The images of the phantom were evaluated subjectively and the CT numbers and SDs were measured. The differences between the measured values at different imaging parameters were compared. The multi-group Friedman test was used to compare CT numbers and SD under different scanning parameters in sequential scanning mode, and the Wilcoxon test was used to compare CT numbers and SD in spiral scanning mode.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the geometric shapes of the phantom images obtained at any combination of parameters. In sequential scanning mode, the differences at different detector widths were statistically significant (χ 2=14.00, P=0.001) with CT numbers at 40 mm and 160 mm greater than CT numbers at 80 mm ( P<0.05). The differences at different signal acquisition positions were statistically significant (χ 2=12.04, P=0.002) with CT numbers at peripheral and adjacent greater than CT numbers at central ( P<0.05). In spiral scanning mode CT numbers at detector width at 80 mm were greater than CT numbers at 40 mm ( Z=-2.10, P=0.036). For SD, the differences at different detector widths were statistically significant in sequential scanning modes (χ 2=8.17, P=0.017) with SD at 160 mm greater than SD at 80 mm ( P<0.05). The differences at different signal acquisition positions were statistically significant (χ 2=13.50, P=0.001) with SD at peripheral greater than SD at central ( P<0.05). In spiral scanning mode SDs at pitches 0.984 and 0.992 were greater than SDs at 0.516 and 0.508 ( Z=-2.66, P=0.008). There were no significant differences among other groups. Conclusion:The selection of scanning mode, detector width and signal acquisition position of wide-detector CT will affect the image CT numbers and SDs.

Diagnostic value of neutrophil CD64 index in disseminated nontuberculous mycobacteria infection / 中华传染病杂志

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of neutrophil CD64 index (nCD64) in disseminated nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection.Methods:Thirty-six patients with NTM infection from January 2020 to June 2021 in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University were included. Patients were classified into groups of disseminated infection and focal infection according to their medical history and discharge diagnosis. The expressions of nCD64 in patients with focal infection and disseminated infection before treatment were collected and analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and the diagnostic value of nCD64 for disseminated NTM infection was analyzed using the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve). Results:Among the 36 patients with NTM infection, 18 cases were focal infection (due to the low white blood cell count of the patient with myelodysplastic syndrome, the detection results were biased, which were excluded from the subsequent analysis) and 18 cases were disseminated infection. The expression of nCD64 in focal infection was 0.72(0.50, 1.55), and that in disseminated infection was 13.63(6.77, 32.31). The difference was statistically significant ( U=15.50, P<0.001). Using focal infection as a control, the area under the ROC curve for the operational characteristics of the subjects was 0.949 3 for disseminated NTM infection. The diagnostic cut-off value of nCD64 was 3.06, with the sensitivity and specificity of the disseminated NTM infection were 88.89% and 100.00%, respectively. Conclusions:In patients with NTM infection before effective treatment, the diagnostic cut-off value of nCD64 of 3.06 has high sensitivity and specificity, which is useful for the aided diagnosis of disseminated NTM infection.