Objective To investigate the correlation between subnuclear DNA distribution and breast cancer metastasis via stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM). Methods Low metastatic breast cancer MCF7 cells and high metastatic breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were selected as the research subjects. On this basis, TGFβ was supplemented to establish a breast cancer metastasis model, whereas breast cancer differentiation models were constructed via treatment with two distinct drug combinations: Tazemetostat/Ipatasertib and Rosiglitazone/PD98059, respectively. The efficacy of model establishment was evaluated by MMP9 expression and wound healing assay. The subnuclear distribution of DNA was analyzed by STORM with fluorescence labeling of histone H3, DNA repair protein OGG1 and dsDNA staining. Results In low metastatic breast cancer MCF7 cells, approximately 60% of DNA was distributed in peripheral region of the cell nucleus, whereas only 35% of DNA was localized in the corresponding area in high metastatic breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells (P=0.0025). In addition, the distribution of DNA in the breast cancer metastasis model aggregates the center of nucleus (P=0.0102), while the distribution of DNA in the breast cancer differentiation model aggregates towards peripheral region of the cell nucleus (P=0.0005, 0.0013). Conclusion This study visualized the subnuclear DNA distribution in breast cancer cells with varying metastatic potentials via STORM, uncovered the intrinsic correlation between subnuclear DNA distribution and breast cancer metastasis, and indicated that this distribution could act as a promising diagnostic indicator for breast cancer metastasis.

Objective To analyze the correlation between coronary artery Z-scores measured by echocardiography and heart rate, inflammatory indicators, and blood component indices in children with Kawasaki disease. Methods A total of 233 children with Kawasaki disease admitted to Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from March 2022 to March 2025 were enrolled as research subjects. Echocardiography was performed to measure the internal diameters of 6 coronary artery segments, including the left main coronary artery (LMCA), left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX), proximal right coronary artery (RCA), middle RCA, and distal RCA. Z-scores for each vessel segment were calculated, and the maximum Z-score was used as the evaluation index for each child. According to the Z-scores, the children were divided into three groups: Dilatation group (2≤Z-score<2.5), Small coronary aneurysm group (2.5≤Z-score<5), and Medium-large coronary aneurysm group (Z-score≥5). General data of children in each group [gender, age, height, weight, body surface area (BSA), heart rate, fever duration] were collected, and the levels of biochemical indicators [platelets (PLT), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), red blood cell count (RBC), neutrophil percentage (NE%), albumin (ALB), hemoglobin (HGB)] were detected. Correlations between general data, biochemical indicators and Z-scores were analyzed, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to screen for independent risk factors affecting Z-scores. Results Compared with the Dilatation group and Small coronary aneurysm group, the Medium-large coronary aneurysm group had significantly higher levels of PLT, CRP, WBC, ESR, and NE% (P<0.05), and significantly lower levels of RBC, ALB, and HGB (P<0.05). Z-scores were positively correlated with heart rate, PLT, CRP, WBC, ESR, and NE% (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with RBC, ALB, and HGB (P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CRP (β=0.464), ESR (β=0.198), NE% (β=0.163), and ALB (β=-0.103) had a significant impact on Z-scores (P<0.001). Conclusion CRP, ESR, NE%, and ALB have independent predictive effects on coronary artery Z-scores, and can serve as predictive indicators for evaluating the severity and degree of dilation of coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease.

Objective To explore the predictive efficacy of imaging characteristics combined with blood glucose level and lipid metabolism in aortic valve calcification (AVC), and to provide a reference for the early identification of AVC. Methods A total of 415 patients who tested negative for AVC and underwent their first coronary computed tomography angiography examination at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2021 to January 2024 were selected as the subjects of this study. Based on the imaging outcomes at the end of the follow-up period, the patients were divided into the AVC group (n=124) and the non-AVC group (n=291). The demographic data, past medical history, imaging features and laboratory indicators (blood glucose, lipid metabolism, etc.) of the patients were collected. Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences between the two groups. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to screen the independent influencing factors of AVC. The predictive efficacy of single index and combined indexes was evaluated by ROC curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis. Results Univariate analysis showed that the age, history of coronary heart disease, levels of HbA1c, coronary artery calcification (CAC) score, incidence of multi-site vascular calcification and coronary branch lesions in the AVC group were significantly higher than those in the non-AVC group, while the level of HDL-C in the AVC group was significantly lower than that in the non-AVC group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, HbA1c, CAC, ascending aortic calcification, aortic arch calcification and thoracic aortic calcification were independent risk factors for AVC, and HDL-C was an independent protective factor (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of the combined diagnosis of blood glucose level (HbA1c), lipid metabolism (HDL-C) and imaging characteristics (CAC+ascending aortic calcification+aortic arch calcification+thoracic aortic calcification) was 0.817, which was significantly higher than that of single indexes (P<0.05). The model had good goodness-of-fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P=0.417) and significant clinical net benefit at high-risk thresholds (0.3-0.8). Conclusion The diagnostic model combining imaging features, blood glucose level and lipid metabolism has excellent diagnostic efficacy for AVC, and can be used as an effective tool for early clinical identification of AVC.

Objective To explore the clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with Wilson's disease, providing reference for its clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 9 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with Wilson's disease admitted to the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from January 2022 to December 2024. The data included demographic information, clinical characteristics, laboratory indicators, treatment methods, and prognosis. Results Among the 9 patients, there were 6 males and 3 females, aged 22-66(43.6±15.2) years old at the time of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis. All patients had concurrent liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A in 3 cases, class B in 4 cases, and class C in 2 cases). Alpha-fetoprotein was negative in 8 cases and positive in 1 case; Kayser-Fleischer rings on the cornea were positive in 6 cases. The tumor staging was mainly early-stage (Barcelona Clinic Hepatocellular Carcinoma staging A in 6 cases, Chinese Hepatocellular Carcinoma staging Ia in 6 cases). Individualized treatment plans were adopted: 4 patients underwent ablation (1 case of radiofrequency ablation and 3 cases of microwave ablation), 3 patients underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and 2 patients received conservative treatment. Three patients recurred at 5, 13 and 18 months postoperatively, respectively, and all received TACE treatment after the first recurrence. Among them, 1 patient who recurred a second time received combined TACE and microwave ablation treatment. In terms of prognosis, only 1 late-stage patient died, and the remaining 8 patients improved. Conclusion Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with Wilson's disease occurs secondary to liver cirrhosis. It has a wide age range of onset, hidden course, and mostly negative alpha-fetoprotein, making early diagnosis difficult. The risk of postoperative recurrence is high, and there is a significant difference in recurrence intervals. Clinicians should strengthen long-term follow-up for patients with Wilson's disease progressing to liver cirrhosis, and it is recommended to use enhanced MRI for dynamic monitoring to improve the early diagnosis rate. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to improving the prognosis of this disease.

Objective To investigate the severity of muscle edema in the bilateral thighs of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) using conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences and to analyze their correlations. Methods The bilateral thigh MRI data of 63 genetically confirmed DMD patients from Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital (collected between January 2023 and December 2024) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into three age groups: toddler group (<3 years old, n=6), preschool group (3-5 years old, n=36), and school-age group (6-12 years old, n=21). Statistical analysis was performed to examine the associations between edema distribution across 11 bilateral thigh muscles and the following factors: DWI hyperintensity, fatty infiltration, and age grouping. Results Among the 63 patients, the muscles with higher incidence of edema were the vastus medialis (right: 47 cases, left: 44 cases) and the long head of the biceps femoris (right: 37 cases, left: 52 cases), while the muscles with lower incidence were the semitendinosus (right: 14 cases, left: 16 cases) and the gracilis (right: 17 cases, left: 16 cases). Regarding edema scores, the vastus medialis (right: 82 points, left: 69 points) and the long head of the biceps femoris (right: 60 points, left: 84 points) had higher scores, whereas the semitendinosus (right: 17 points, left: 23 points) and the gracilis (right: 24 points, left: 22 points) had lower scores. The 11 muscles were anatomically divided into three muscle groups: the anterior group (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, sartorius), the medial group (adductor longus, adductor magnus, gracilis), and the posterior group (semimembranosus, semitendinosus, long head of the biceps femoris). The proportion of muscle edema in the medial group of both legs showed a negative correlation with increasing age (right: r=-0.407, P<0.01; left: r=-0.278, P=0.027), while no correlation was found between the proportion of muscle edema in the anterior or posterior groups and increasing age in either leg (P>0.05). Muscle edema in both legs was correlated with DWI hyperintensity (P<0.01), with the highest correlation observed in the left adductor magnus (r=0.929, P<0.01) and the lowest in the right semimembranosus (r=0.651, P<0.01). No correlation was found between edema and fatty infiltration in any of the 11 muscles of both legs. Conclusion MRI can semi-quantitatively display the distribution and severity of muscle edema in the bilateral thighs of DMD patients. Among these, the proportion of edema in the medial muscle group shows a decreasing trend with increasing age. There is a high correlation between DWI hyperintensity and the distribution of muscle edema, with the strongest correlation observed in the left adductor magnus.

Objective To investigate the value of dual-modality contrast-enhanced ultrasound [contrast transthoracic echocardiography (C-TTE), contrast transcranial color doppler bubble test (C-TCCD)] in the diagnosis of migraine complicated with patent foramen ovale-right-to-left shunt (PFO-RLS) and evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics. Methods This retrospective study included 115 patients with migraine who were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University between July 2024 and July 2025. All patients underwent C-TTE, C-TCCD, and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). TEE was used as the reference standard for the diagnosis of PFO, based on which patients were classified into PFO-positive and PFO-negative groups. Baseline characteristics, including gender, age, BMI, Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) scores, were compared between the two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and other diagnostic indices of C-TTE, C-TCCD, and their combined application for detecting PFO-RLS were calculated. ROC curves were constructed to evaluate the AUC for each diagnostic approach. In addition, cerebral hemodynamic parameters of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA), including peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), mean velocity (MV), pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI), were compared between groups. Results Among the 115 migraine patients, 85 were classified as PFO-positive and 30 as PFO-negative. The MIDAS score was higher in the PFO-positive group than in the PFO-negative group (P<0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed in gender, age, BMI, HIT-6 score, or VAS score between the two groups (P>0.05). For the diagnosis of PFO-RLS, C-TTE showed a sensitivity of 0.835, a specificity of 0.733, an accuracy of 0.808, and an AUC of 0.784 (95% CI: 0.695-0.874). C-TCCD showed a sensitivity of 0.929, a specificity of 0.667, an accuracy of 0.861, and an AUC of 0.798 (95% CI: 0.708-0.888). The combined use of C-TTE and C-TCCD showed a sensitivity of 0.976, a specificity of 0.667, an accuracy of 0.895, and an AUC of 0.822 (95% CI: 0.734-0.909). Significant differences in PSV, EDV and MV were observed between the PFO-positive group and the PFO-negative group (P<0.01). Conclusion The combined application of C-TTE and C-TCCD provides superior diagnostic value for PFO-RLS compared with either modality alone. Differences exist in cerebral hemodynamics parameters between migraine patients with positive PFO and those with negative PFO.

Objective To explore the application value of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) in optimizing the image quality of virtual non-contrast (VNC) chest spectral CT. Methods Forty-five patients undergoing true non-contrast (TNC) and dual-phase contrast-enhanced spectral CT of the chest at the Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine from June to October 2024 were prospectively enrolled. ASIR-V50% weighted reconstruction at 120 kVp-like settings served as the true non-contrast reference (TNC-AR50). Based on arterial and venous phase contrast data, four DLIR-reconstructed VNC groups (VP-VNC-DM, VP-VNC-DH, AP-VNC-DM, AP-VNC-DH). CT values, noise (SD), SNR, and CNR were measured for the aorta, subcutaneous fat, erector spinae muscles, and lesions across all five image sets (TNC-AR50 + 4 VNC sets). Objective metrics were compared using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Two radiologists independently performed subjective blinded evaluations of overall image quality and lesion visibility using a 5-point Likert scale. Results In objective image quality assessment, the VP-VNC-DH group demonstrated superior quality compared to TNC-AR50, with no statistically significant differences in CT values among the five groups (P>0.05). The VP-VNC-DH group exhibited the lowest image noise and the highest SNR and CNR. In subjective evaluation, the VP-VNC-DH group received the highest image quality scores and performed best in lesion conspicuity. The total effective radiation dose for chest CT with and without the TNC scan was 9.40±0.41 mSv and 6.27±0.28 mSv, respectively. Omitting the TNC scan reduced the total radiation dose by approximately 33.3%. Conclusion In chest-enhanced CT examinations, VNC images reconstructed using DLIR (especially venous-phase DLIR-H) demonstrated significantly superior image quality compared to TNC images reconstructed using ASIR-V 50%, with good CT value consistency. It is recommended to use venous-phase high-level DLIR (DLIR-H) reconstruction for VNC images as an alternative to true non-contrast scans to effectively reduce radiation dose.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between distinct metastatic stages (non?metastatic, oligometastatic, and polymetastatic) of prostate cancer and ¹⁸F?prostate?specific membrane antigen (PSMA)?1007 PET/CT imaging characteristics together with clinical parameters. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 269 pathologically confirmed prostate cancer patients who underwent ¹⁸F?PSMA?1007 PET/CT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from February 2022 to May 2025. Based on imaging findings, patients were categorized into non?metastatic (n=107), oligometastatic (n=60), and polymetastatic (n=102) groups. Comparative analysis of clinical and imaging parameters among groups was performed. Variables significant on univariate analysis were entered into multivariable logistic regression. ROC curves were constructed to evaluate the discriminative performance of risk factors for polymetastasis. Results Univariate analysis demonstrated significant differences (P<0.05) among groups in total prostate?specific antigen (TPSA), prostate-specific antigen density, free PSA (FPSA), the FPSA/TPSA ratio, Gleason score, International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grading (low grade: 1-3; high grade: 4-5), tumor?to?background ratio (TBR), maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max), mean SUV (SUV_mean), total lesion glycolysis, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and prostate volume (PV). Multivariable logistic regression revealed FPSA and ISUP as independent predictors of oligometastasis (P<0.05), while SUV_mean, MTV, TPSA, PV, and ISUP were independent predictors of polymetastasis (P<0.05). ROC analysis indicated that TPSA achieved the highest diagnostic accuracy for polymetastasis (AUC=0.88, specificity=90.4%), whereas SUV_mean demonstrated the highest sensitivity (94.1%). MTV and PV showed lower AUCs, sensitivity, and specificity compared with TPSA and SUV_mean, with no significant differences between the MTV and PV metrics. Conclusion Integrating ¹⁸F?PSMA?1007 PET/CT metabolic parameters with clinical indicators enhances stratification of metastatic burden in prostate cancer. FPSA and ISUP are independent predictors of oligometastasis, while TPSA, SUVmean, MTV, PV, and ISUP serve as independent determinants of polymetastasis.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of white matter microstructure alterations in patients with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) using voxel-based analysis (VBA) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 37 female PDM patients (PDM group) and 40 age-matched healthy female controls (HC group) who were recruited from the student population of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine from January to December 2022. Whole-brain DTI scans were acquired, TBSS were used to assess microstructural integrity, and VBA was applied to compare whole-brain white matter differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), mean diffusivity (MD), and radial diffusivity (RD) between groups. Subsequently, correlations between these alterations and clinical data were analyzed within the PDM group. Results The TBSS analysis showed no statistically significant differences in white matter microstructure between the two groups across all comparisons. VBA revealed significant white matter microstructural alterations between the HC and PDM groups across all four DTI parameters(FA, AD, MD, and RD). Relative to the HC group, PDM patients demonstrated significantly lower FA in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (peak t=2.96) and higher FA in the fornix (column and body of fornix, peak t=-2.52) (GRF corrected); For AD, the PDM group exhibited decreased values in the fornix (column and body of fornix, peak t=2.74) and increased values in the left corticospinal tract (peak t=-4.34) (GRF corrected); For MD, the PDM group exhibited decreases in the fornix (column and body of fornix, peak t=3.31) and increases in the left cerebral peduncle (peak t=-4.33) (GRF corrected); For RD, the PDM group exhibited a decrease in the fornix (column and body of fornix, peak t=3.53) and an increase in the right superior corona radiata (peak t=-3.75) (GRF corrected). Correlation analysis failed to establish any significant associations between the VBA-derived white alterations and clinical scores (P>0.05). Conclusion Our study provides complementary evidence for white matter microstructural alterations in PDM through the combined use of VBA and TBSS. VBA served as an unbiased, whole-brain exploratory tool, revealing significant alterations outside pre-defined networks. TBSS, by circumventing registration and smoothing issues via its skeleton-based approach, offered enhanced sensitivity for major tracts. The convergence of findings from VBA, alongside the methodological rigor of TBSS, reinforces the validity of our primary results and underscores the utility of this dual-menthod approach in neuroimaging research.

Objective To segment uterine MRI during pregnancy using a Bidirectional Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory Dense U-Net (BCDU-Net) deep learning model and evaluate the feasibility of computer-automated quantification of uterine longitudinal diameter and volume as an alternative to manual measurements by physicians. Methods Imaging data were retrospectively collected from 61 parturients in our hospital from July 2019 to November 2023 with uterine atony during delivery who had underwent pelvic MRI during pregnancy. Regions of interest (ROIs) for the uterine wall and uterine volume were manually delineated using 3D Slicer, a BCDU-Net model was developed for automatic segmentation of the uterine wall and volume. The dataset was randomly divided into training, validation, and test sets according to the task. The trained segmentation model was applied to automatically segment the uterine wall and volume, followed by computer-based measurement of uterine longitudinal diameter and volume. Results In the test set, the BCDU-Net model achieved a dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.866 and an intersection over union (IoU) of 0.773 for uterine wall segmentation, and a DSC of 0.978 and an IoU of 0.955 for uterine volume segmentation. Computer-based measurements from the automated segmentation showed high agreement with manual measurements (longitudinal diameter) obtained via the Picture Archiving and Communication System, formula-based calculations (volume), and manual delineations using 3D Slicer (volume), with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Conclusion The BCDU-Net deep learning model was successfully developed for the automatic segmentation of the uterine wall and volume. Computer-based measurements of uterine longitudinal diameter and volume, derived from the automated segmentation results,are feasible and can serve as an alternative to manual measurements performed by physician.

Objective To investigate alterations in left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with moderate to severe cor pulmonale during right heart decompensation, utilizing two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) combined with non-invasive myocardial work (MW) assessment, and to explore the clinical application value of this approach. Methods This study enrolled 30 patients with moderate to severe cor pulmonale (case group) and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (control group) from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital from April 2023 to April 2025. All participants underwent standard echocardiographic examination, followed by analysis using 2D-STE integrated with MW. Differences in various parameters between the two groups were compared to elucidate changes in LV myocardial work in the patient group. The primary parameters assessed included: LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), LV global work index (LVGWI), LV global constructive work (LVGCW), LV global wasted work (LVGWW), and LV global work efficiency (LVGWE). Results Comparison of conventional echocardiographic parameters revealed that the case group had significantly larger left atrial size, thicker interventricular septum, wider pulmonary artery diameter, and higher pulmonary artery pressure compared to the control group (P<0.05), alongside a mild reduction in LV ejection fraction (LVEF, P<0.05). Analysis of myocardial work parameters demonstrated that the case group exhibited significantly increased GWW (P<0.01) and decreased GLS, GWI, GWE and GCW (P<0.01). Correlation analysis indicated that LV GWI and GCW were negatively correlated with pulmonary artery diameter (r=-0.314, -0.256, P<0.05). GWE, GWI, and GCW showed positive correlations with LVEF (r=0.417, 0.452, 0.445, P<0.05) and negative correlations with GLS (r=-0.813, -0.835, -0.685, P<0.05). Conversely, GWW was positively correlated with GLS (r=0.439, P<0.05). Conclusion Myocardial work assessment provides precise quantitative parameters of LV myocardial work in patients with moderate to severe cor pulmonale. The results confirm that alterations in LV systolic function occur during the subclinical stage, offering innovative and reliable data to support early clinical intervention for this condition.

Objective To evaluate the effect of preoperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) to reducing perioperative anxiety among patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Methods This randomized clinical trial was conducted from July 2024 to July 2025 at The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University 130 patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery under general anesthesia. Participants were assigned to either the active TEAS group (TEAS group) or the sham TEAS group (STEAS group) using a random number table method. In TEAS group,TEAS was performed on the afternoon of the day before operation and in the morning of the day of operation in the treatment room of the wards, at Shenmen, bilateral Yintang, and Neiguan and each TEAS lasted for 30 min. In the STEAS group, electrode pads were placed on identical acupuncture points, with the current intensity maintained at 0 mA to ensure sham stimulation. The outcome was the incidence and scores of perioperative anxiety from the day of the operation up to 3 days after the procedure, as measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Anxiety (HADS-A) subscale. Additional recorded outcomes included the pain score using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the incidence of nausea and vomiting on 3 days after the procedure, and the Quality of Recovery Scale (QoR-15) score,the durations of surgery and anesthesia, extubation time, and length of stay in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Results Compared to the STEAS group, the incidence of anxiety was significantly decreased after the second TEAS session (P=0.035) and lower anxiety scores after the first session (P<0.01). The TEAS group also showed significantly higher recovery quality (P<0.001), lower postoperative pain scores (P<0.001), the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was decreased (P<0.05). The time to tracheal extubation and the duration of post-anesthesia care unit stay were reduced (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the duration of operation or anesthesia (P>0.05). Conclusion Preoperative TEAS can effectively reduce preoperative anxiety and improve the quality of early postoperative recovery in the patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery,may serve as a viable adjunctive intervention.

Objective To investigate the patterns of altered local brain activity and global connectivity in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using a combined regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC) analysis approach. Methods Twenty-nine patients and 29 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled from the Seventh Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Shenzhen Bao'an District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital) from December 2023 to September 2024. All subjects underwent clinical assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scanning. ReHo was used to detect alterations in local brain activity in patients with PD. Brain regions exhibiting significant ReHo differences were selected as regions of interest for seed-based FC analysis, thereby enabling the identification of whole-brain connectivity changes. Correlation analysises were used to explore the relationships between abnormal ReHo and FC values and clinical indicators such as the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS Ⅲ) , Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) , and disease duration. Results Compared with HCs, the PD patients showed reduced ReHo values in the right superior temporal gyrus and the left supramarginal gyrus (GRF corrected, voxel P<0.005, cluster P<0.05). A whole-brain voxel-wise FC analysis revealed that the right superior temporal gyrus was less connected to the left calcarine gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, left medial and paracingulate gyri, and the right rolandic operculum gyrus in the PD group. Additionally, the left supramarginal gyrus exhibited reduced FC with both the left lingual gyrus and the right rolandic operculum gyrus (GRF corrected, voxel P<0.005, cluster P<0.05). Correlation analyses revealed that in PD patients, the ReHo values in the right superior temporal gyrus (r=-0.417, P=0.024) and left supramarginal gyrus (r=-0.468, P=0.010) were negatively correlated with MDS-UPDRS III scores. Conversely, ReHo in the right superior temporal gyrus (r=0.471, P=0.010) and left supramarginal gyrus (r=0.481, P=0.008) showed positive correlations with MMSE scores. Furthermore, FC analysis indicated a positive correlation between the right rolandic operculum and MMSE scores (r=0.369, P=0.048). Conclusion Patients with Parkinson's disease exhibit abnormal neuronal activity in brain regions involved in sensorimotor integration and visuospatial processing. Imbalances in the functional integration of these brain regions may be associated with worsening motor and non-motor symptoms in PD.

Objective A nomogram model incorporating ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, clinical, and serological indicators was constructed to evaluate its predictive value for the malignant risk of ovarian-adnexal tumors. Methods Retrospective analysis of 220 patients diagnosed with ovarian-adnexal tumors at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2022 to January 2025. Among these, 161 cases were benign and 59 were malignant. They were randomly divided into a training set (n=154) and a validation set (n=66) at a ratio of 7:3. The characteristics of ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, clinical, and serological indicators between the training and validation datasets were compared. Subsequently, independent influencing factors were identified through Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO)-logistic regression and construct a regression model and the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve were plotted to evaluate the model's diagnostic performance. Results The training and validation sets showed significant differences in CA125 and tumor type (P<0.05), with no significant differences in other baseline characteristics (P>0.05). The LASSO-logistic regression analysis revealed that menopausal status, HE4, nipple, morphology, blood flow, enhancement level, and distribution characteristics are independent risk factors for diagnosing the benign or malignant nature of ovarian-adnexal tumors (P<0.05). A regression model constructed based on the above seven indicators. The model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.961 (95% CI: 0.931-0.991) on the training set and 0.973 (95% CI: 0.939-1.000) on the validation set, demonstrating high accuracy. Calibration curve analysis indicated good model calibration. Clinical decision curve analysis demonstrated that the model exhibits favorable net benefit in clinical applications. Conclusion A nomogram model incorporating ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, clinical, and serological indicators serves as a non-invasive quantitative tool for predicting the malignant risk of ovarian-adnexal tumors, providing reliable diagnostic evidence for precision clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To explore the feasibility of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with prospective single-phase scanning using New Generation Snapshot Freeze (NG SSF) combined with wide collimation and rapid scanning. Methods A total of 47 patients suspected of coronary heart disease who underwent 256-row Revolution APEX CT coronary angiography in our hospital from July 2024 to March 2025 were enrolled. All patients underwent CCTA data acquisition with prospective single-phase scanning based on real-time monitored heart rate: the 75% R-R interval in diastole was selected for heart rate <70 beats/min, and the 45% R-R interval in systole for heart rate ≥70 beats/min. The original data were divided into two groups using a self-controlled design, namely the STD group and the NG SSF group, according to whether NG SSF technology was enabled for reconstruction. Two cardiovascular imaging diagnosticians independently scored the image quality of the three major coronary artery branches (left anterior descending branch and left circumflex branch, right coronary artery) in both groups using a 4-point Likert scale.The consistency of image quality evaluation between the two radiologists was analyzed, and the final scores were determined through consultation. Differences in image quality between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results The two observers showed good consistency in scoring the image quality of the STD group and the NG SSF group (Kappa = 0.873-0.937). The image quality of the NG SSF group was significantly better than that of the STD group (all P < 0.05). Among the 141 major blood vessels in the STD group, 40.43% received a score of 4, 36.88% received a score of 3, 16.31% received a score of 2, and 6.38% received a score of 1, with an assessable rate (≥3 points) of 94.32%. In the NG SSF group, 82.98% of the vessels received a score of 4, 17.02% received a score of 3, and there were no vessels with scores of 1 or 2, resulting in an assessable rate of 100%. The average effective dose (ED) of the 47 patients was 1.28±0.45 mSv, showing a significant effect in radiation dose control. Conclusion NG SSF significantly improves the image quality and diagnostic utility of CCTA with prospective single-phase scanning. Combined with wide-collimation prospective single-phase rapid scanning, it facilitates radiation dose reduction while ensuring image quality and diagnostic utility, thus possessing significant clinical application value.

Objective To evaluate right ventricular (RV) function in obese patients with hypertension via two-dimensional speckle tracking and three-dimensional echocardiography. Methods This study enrolled 125 obese patients from Shanxi Bethune Hospital from October 2023 to October 2024, dividing them into two groups: 63 patients with pure obesity and 62 patients with obese and hypertension.The control group comprised 58 healthy volunteers during the same period.All subjects underwent conventional echocardiography, and right ventricular septal longitudinal strain (RVSLS) and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) were obtained by using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI). Right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), end-systolic volume (RVESV), stroke volume (RVSV), ejection fraction (RVEF), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and fractional area change (FAC) were obtained by using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography. Baseline data, routine echocardiography parameters, right ventricular strain parameters, three-dimensional volume, and function parameters were observed and compared among the groups. Results Compared with controls, the obesity-alone group exhibited increased RVEDV, RVESV, and RVSV, along with reduced TAPSE and FAC. The obesity-with-hypertension group demonstrated significantly higher RVEDV and RVESV than the obesity-alone group (P<0.05). RVSLS and RVFWLS were impaired in both obese subgroups compared to controls obesity-alone. Furthermore, the obesity-with-hypertension group had lower RVSLS and RVFWLS than the obesity-alone group (P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain was independently associated with the systolic blood pressure, LVMI, and BMI (P<0.05). Conclusion Obesity impairs right ventricular function, with hypertension exacerbating this impairment.

Objective To investigate the value of left ventricular pressure-strain loop (LV-PSL) technology in assessing the efficacy of catheter ablation for patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation. Methods A total of 142 patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation who underwent first-time catheter ablation in our hospital from April 2021 to May 2024 were enrolled. Echocardiographic re-evaluation was performed 6 months after treatment, and patients were stratified into the improvement group (n=68) and non-improvement group (n=74) according to the presence or absence of improvement in atrial functional mitral regurgitation. LV-PSL technology was applied to measure LV-PSL parameters [global longitudinal strain (GLS), global myocardial work efficiency (GWE), global wasted work (GWW), global constructive work (GCW), and global myocardial work index (GWI)] before treatment and 6 months post-treatment. Intergroup comparisons of LV-PSL parameters were conducted. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of LV-PSL parameters in predicting the efficacy of catheter ablation for atrial functional mitral regurgitation. Multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis was performed to identify independent influencing factors of treatment efficacy in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation. Results Compared with pre-treatment, both groups exhibited significant increases in GLS, GWE, GCW, and GWI, as well as a significant decrease in GWW at 6 months post-treatment (P<0.05). Before treatment and at 6 months post-treatment, GLS, GWE, GCW, and GWI in the non-improvement group were significantly lower than those in the improvement group, whereas GWW was significantly higher (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of GLS, GWE, GWW, GCW, and GWI for assessing the efficacy of catheter ablation in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation were 0.843, 0.862, 0.726, 0.789, and 0.891, respectively. And the AUC of the five combined assessments was 0.907. Patients in the non-improvement group had significantly higher age, CHA?DS?-VASc score, proportion of persistent atrial fibrillation, proportion of severe mitral regurgitation, left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAD), and mitral annular anteroposterior diameter (MAD) compared with the improvement group (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that age, atrial fibrillation type, mitral regurgitation degree, MAD, GWE, and GWI were independent predictors of the efficacy of catheter ablation in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (P<0.05). Conclusion LV-PSL technology serves as a valid tool for the early assessment of catheter ablation efficacy in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation, and the LV-PSL parameters GWE and GWI are independent predictors of the efficacy of catheter ablation in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation.

Depression, as a highly prevalent mental disorder, has underlying neurobiological mechanisms that remain largely elusive. A core pathological hallmark of this condition is impaired neural plasticity. Although traditional pharmacotherapies can indirectly promote synaptic remodeling via neurotransmitter modulation, their therapeutic efficacy is subject to notable limitations. In recent years, transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), endowed with non-invasive intervention characteristics and exceptional spatial superior capability, has emerged as a promising novel technology in the field of neuromodulation. Existing studies have confirmed that TUS can significantly alleviate depressive symptoms by enhancing neural plasticity. However, the specific molecular pathways mediating its antidepressant effects await systematic elucidation. This article comprehensively review the research progress regarding the role of TUS in ameliorating depression-related neural plasticity, with a focus on summarizing the regulatory mechanisms of TUS on neural structural and functional plasticity. We also discuss neurotrophic factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and their associated signaling pathways, further outline the limitations of current research and propose prospects for future investigation directions.

Renal-cleared gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have gradually gained widespread attention in medical imaging as CT contrast agents due to their excellent physicochemical properties and high X-ray attenuation coefficients. This review explores the physicochemical properties of AuNPs, their renal clearance mechanisms, and their applications in CT imaging. It was found that factors such as the size and surface charge of AuNPs had a significant effect on their renal clearance efficiency, and smaller AuNPs were able to be cleared more efficiently through the kidneys and improve the contrast of CT imaging. Finally, it discusses the controversial safety of long-term use of gold nanoparticles, cost-benefit analysis, and looks forward to future research directions and potential applications, summarizing the existing results and pointing out that the safety and cost are still to be verified.

As an emerging cardiovascular function detection method, Magnetocardiography (MCG) technology has gradually become a research hotspot in the global field of new medical technologies due to its significant advantages such as high sensitivity, rapidity, convenience, non-invasiveness, non-radiation, and no need for contrast agents. At present, most studies on MCG technology focus on equipment performance optimization and clinical disease diagnosis, while specialized research in the field of hospital health management remains blank. This paper adopts the methods of literature review and case analysis to compare the differences between MCG technology and traditional cardiac examination technologies in terms of core advantages, applicable populations/scenarios, etc. Combined with the practical application case of MCG technology in the Health Management Center of Linyi People's Hospital, an empirical study is carried out to systematically elaborate on the application value of MCG technology in early screening of cardiovascular diseases, dynamic assessment of health risks, health management of special populations, and the whole-process health service chain. The purpose is to provide theoretical and practical references for the standardized application of MCG technology in the field of hospital health management.