Objective To developed a cell-targeted superparamagnetic iron oxide fluorescence-magnetic resonance dual-signal molecular probe, Cy5.5-antiGlut1-BSA?SPIONs was prepared. To evaluate its basic properties and explore cell fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging capabilities. Methods Oil-soluble SPIONs were synthesized by high-temperature hot injection; The water-soluble BSA?SPIONs probe precursor was synthesized by phacoemulsification; After coupling with the anti-tumor polyclonal antibody (Glut1) and the infrared fluorescein Cy5.5, the Cy5.5-antiGlut1-BSA SPIONs targeted dual-signal molecular probe was prepared. The key properties such as morphology, particle size, optical properties and relaxation rate of the Cy5.5-antiGlut1-BSA?SPIONs probe were basically characterized. Furthermore, the Cy5.5-antiGlut1-BSA?SPIONs molecular probe was innovatively used to observe the expression and distribution of Glut1 at the tumor site in tissue biopsy under a fluorescence confocal microscope. Results This diameter of this molecular probe was 20-40 nm and it exhibited colloidal stability and biocompatibility under both acidic and alkaline conditions. It exhibited strong fluorescence and high relaxation (r2:129.92 s^-1 per mmol/L Fe³⁺). The T2 signal of magnetic resonance imaging gradually increased with the increase of probe concentration. Through cytotoxicity and histological toxicity tests, this molecular probe showed non-toxic. Conclusion The Cy5.5-antiGlut1-BSA?SPIONs molecular probe possessed excellent fluorescence-magnetic resonance dual-mode imaging capabilities and specific targeting ability for colorectal cancer cells HCT116. It was a promising molecular probe for in vivo MRI-fluorescent diagnosis and ex vivo biopsy analysis of colorectal cancer cells.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of quantitative spectral CT parameters for Ki-67 expression levels in colorectal cancer. Methods A prospective study was conducted on 59 patients who underwent pre-operative whole-abdominal spectral CT enhanced scanning at the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College from January 2023 to July 2025 and were pathologically confirmed to have colorectal adenocarcinoma. Imaging and clinical data were collected. Patients were divided into high-expression group (Ki-67≥70%, n=40) and low-expression group (Ki-67<70%, n=19) based on the Ki-67 expression index. The CT_{40 keV}, CT_{70 keV}, CT_{100 keV} values, iodine concentration (IC), and effective atomic number (Zeff) of the lesions were measured using the AW4.7 post-processing workstation during the three-phase contrast-enhanced spectral CT examination. Normalized iodine concentration (NIC) and spectral curve slope (λ_HU) were calculated. Differences in parameters between the two groups were compared. ROC curves were plotted to evaluate the independent and combined predictive performance of these parameters for Ki-67 expression levels. Results The three-phase IC, λ_HU, Zeff, CT_{40 keV}, and CT_{70 keV} values in the Ki-67 high-expression group were significantly higher than those in the low-expression group. The arterial phase CT_{100 keV} and delayed-phase NIC were also significantly higher in the high-expression group compared with the low-expression group (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that delayed-phase IC, NIC, and Zeff had relatively high predictive efficacy for Ki-67 expression levels (AUC=0.737, 0.730, and 0.718; sensitivity=77.5%, 50.0%, and 77.5%; specificity=73.7%, 89.5%, and 68.4%). Conclusion Among the quantitative spectral CT parameters, delayed-phase IC, NIC, and Zeff have certain predictive value for Ki-67 expression levels in colorectal cancer, and the combination of these three parameters can improve the prospective predictive efficacy for Ki-67 expression levels.

Objective To quantitatively assess body composition parameters, including subcutaneous adipose tissue area (SAT), visceral adipose tissue area (VAT), skeletal muscle area (SMA), intermuscular adipose tissue area (IMAT), and epicardial adipose tissue volume (EAT) in patients with different heart failure (HF) phenotypes by using CT, and to investigate the correlations between these body composition parameters and clinical indices as well as cardiac function indicators. Methods A retrospective collection was performed on 50 patients diagnosed with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and 50 age- and gender-matched patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2024 to June 2025. Additionally, 50 healthy controls (HC) who underwent physical examinations at our hospital during the same period were included. All participants underwent non-contrast chest CT and echocardiography. Using a Siemens Syngo.Via workstation, SAT, SMA, and IMAT were semi-automatically measured at the T12 vertebral level, VAT was semi-automatically measured at the T12/L1 intervertebral space, and EAT was automatically obtained via cardiac organ segmentation. Differences in clinical data and body composition among the HFpEF, HFrEF, and control groups were compared, and the associations between body composition parameters and clinical data, left ventricular ejection fraction, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide were evaluated in patients with HFpEF and HFrEF. Results Compared to the HFrEF group, the HFpEF group showed a significantly higher IMAT area (P=0.011). Compared to the healthy control group, the HFpEF group exhibited a significantly higher VAT area (P=0.025). No significant differences in body composition were observed between the HFrEF group and the healthy control group (P>0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that in the HFpEF group, IMAT area was significantly positively correlated with LVEF (r=0.455, P=0.011). In the HFrEF group, no significant correlations were found between body composition indicators and LVEF (P>0.05). Conclusion Different heart failure phenotypes exhibit distinct patterns of abdominal fat distribution and different correlations with cardiac function. Assessment of these differences may provide an imaging-based reference for the early phenotyping of heart failure.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of multimodal ultrasound and pathological features in the diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and to construct a nomogram model based on multi-parameter features and evaluate its diagnostic performance. Methods Clinical data of 50 patients with TNBC and 100 patients with non-TNBC (nTNBC) treated at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and the 985th Hospital from October 2023 to October 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. General patient information including age, gender, and medical history was collected. BI-RADS features included morphology, orientation, margin, echo pattern, posterior features, and calcifications. Elastography parameters included maximum and mean SWE values. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) parameters included peak intensity (PI) and time to peak (TP). Histological grade, Ki-67 index, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TILs) density were also recorded. Independent predictors of TNBC were identified by logistic regression analysis, and a corresponding predictive nomogram was constructed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive ability and clinical application value of the model. Results Pathological analysis showed that most patients in the TNBC group had moderate to high histological grades (grade II and III), whereas the nTNBC group predominantly had low to intermediate grades, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The Ki-67 index and TILs density were significantly higher in the TNBC group than in the nTNBC group (both P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified oval shape (OR=0.291, P=0.006), absence of calcifications (OR=0.143, P<0.001), posterior acoustic enhancement (OR=0.187, P<0.001), lower mean SWE value (OR=0.753, P<0.001), and higher CEUS PI value (OR=1.091, P<0.001) as independent predictors of TNBC. The AUC of the predictive model was 0.894, indicating high predictive accuracy. Conclusion The predictive nomogram constructed in this study and its validation results show good diagnostic effectiveness, which helps improve clinical diagnosis of TNBC, thereby optimizing treatment plans and improving patient prognosis.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of radiomics models based on non-contrast and arterial phase CT images of intratumoral, peritumoral (5, 10, 15 mm), and combined intratumoral-peritumoral regions for immunotherapy efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods This retrospective study enrolled 127 patients with NSCLC who underwent immunotherapy and pre-treatment contrast-enhanced CT from January 2020 to January 2024 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University. A multi-input (non-contrast, arterial phase, and their combination), multi-region of interest (intratumoral, peritumoral 5, 10, 15 mm), and multi-model strategy was used for image analysis. The primary analytical model was pre-specified as the model constructed from intratumoral and 15 mm peritumoral features extracted from combined non-contrast and arterial phase images. Tumor regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated on the largest cross-sectional area using uAI Research Portal software. Peritumoral ROIs of 5, 10, 15 mm were generated via platform expansion. After absolute maximum normalization, optimal radiomic features were selected using LASSO regression and maximum relevance minimum redundancy algorithms to construct the radiomics model. Following preprocessing, models were developed using identical algorithms and ROC curves were plotted. Four metrics, including area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, were analyzed for both the training and test sets. Results A total of 21 radiomics models (intratumoral, peritumoral, combined) were constructed based on non-contrast, arterial phase, and combined images under different peritumoral expansion conditions. All models were built following feature selection from an initial pool of 2264 features. The combined model using non-contrast plus arterial phase images with a 15 mm intratumoral-peritumoral region performed best, achieving an AUC of 0.8871 (95% CI: 0.8380-0.9362) in the training set and 0.7095 (95% CI: 0.5903-0.8286) in the test set. Conclusion Preliminary findings suggest that radiomics features combining intratumoral and peritumoral (15 mm) information from both non-contrast and arterial phase CT images may hold value for predicting immunotherapy response in NSCLC, potentially aiding clinical decision-making.

Objective To compare the diagnostic efficiency of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS), the Chinese (C)-TIRADS, and the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-TIRADS for benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and to provide a basis for their clinical application. Methods A total of 102 thyroid nodules from 102 patients admitted to Hefei Second People's Hospital from April 2022 to May 2025 were included in the study. After pathological examination, diagnosed as malignant and included in the malignant group, and diagnosed as benign and included in the benign group. The clinical data, various ultrasound signs of the malignant and benign groups were compared. The malignant patients were regarded as positive cases, and the benign ones as negative controls. The ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficiency of ACR-TIRADS, C-TIRADS, and AI-TIRADS for benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Results Compared with the benign group, the malignant group had a higher proportion of solid internal composition, low/very low echo, irregular or expansive borders, and an aspect ratio≥1 (P<0.05). A total of 71 cases of malignant thyroid nodules were diagnosed by pathology. ACR-TIRADS, C-TIRADS and AI-TIRADS correctly diagnosed 59 cases, 61 cases and 65 cases of malignant thyroid nodules respectively. The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of ACR-TIRADS, C-TIRADS and AI-TIRADS was 0.835 (95% CI: 0.756-0.914, P<0.05), 0.865 (95% CI: 0.793-0.934, P<0.05), and 0.909 (95% CI: 0.847-0.972, P<0.05), with sensitivities of 83.10%, 85.92%, 91.55% and specificities of 83.87%, 87.10%, 90.32%, respectively. The DeLong test revealed that the AUC area of AI-TIRADS was significantly higher than that of ACR-TIRADS (P=0.008, 95% CI: 0.020-0.129) and C-TIRADS (P=0.037, 95% CI: 0.003-0.086), but there was no statistically significant difference in the AUC between ACR-TIRADS and C-TIRADS (P=0.110, 95% CI: -0.007-0.067). After Holm multiple comparison correction, the difference in AUC between AI-TIRADS and ACR-TIRADS was still statistically significant (adjusted P=0.024), while the difference between AI-TIRADS and C-TIRADS was marginally significant after correction (adjusted P=0.074). There was no statistically significant difference between ACR-TIRADS and C-TIRADS (adjusted P=0.110). Conclusion For benign and malignant thyroid nodules, the diagnostic efficiency of AI-TIRADS was higher, C-TIRADS was had strong clinical operability and could optimize the diagnosis and treatment process of thyroid nodules.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of conventional magnetic resonance T₂WI for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) ≥ 5 mm, aiming to reduce the rates of missed and uncertain diagnosis. Methods We retrospectively collected magnetic resonance T₂WI data of 151 patients with IAs ≥ 5 mm, confirmed by computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), or digital subtraction angiography (DSA), at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from January 2019 to December 2024. A total of 162 IAs from the 151 patients were identified and categorized into a missed-diagnosis group, an uncertain-diagnosis group, and a confirmed-diagnosis group based on diagnostic difficulty. The impacts of aneurysm size, location, and T₂-vascular flow void sign on the diagnosis of IAs were analyzed among the three groups. Additionally, the inter-observer agreement between two radiologists was evaluated. Results Among the 162 IAs, the proportions of the missed-diagnosis, uncertain-diagnosis, and confirmed-diagnosis groups were 13.6% (22/162), 34.0% (55/162), and 52.4% (85/162), respectively. The aneurysm size in the confirmed-diagnosis group [10.90 (8.20, 13.15) mm] was significantly larger than that in the uncertain-diagnosis group [6.20 (5.60, 7.90) mm, P_corr<0.05] and the missed-diagnosis group [5.55 (5.18, 6.55) mm, P_corr<0.05], while no significant difference was observed between the uncertain and missed diagnosis groups (P_corr=0.397). IAs were predominantly located in the middle cerebral artery, ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery, communicating segment of the internal carotid artery, and vertebral artery, with no significant difference in location distribution among the three groups (P=0.825). The proportions of complete versus incomplete T₂-vascular flow void sign in the missed-diagnosis, uncertain-diagnosis, and confirmed-diagnosis groups were 72.7% (16/22) vs 27.3% (6/22), 67.3% (37/55) vs 32.7% (18/55), and 57.5% (49/85) vs 42.4% (36/85), respectively (P=0.306). Among the 151 patients, subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred in 3 cases. The inter-observer agreement between the two radiologists was excellent (Kappa=0.890, 95%CI: 0.839~0.941, P<0.05). Conclusion Conventional magnetic resonance T₂WI demonstrates potential clinical value in the diagnosis of IAs ≥ 5 mm. Accurate identification of T₂WI features of IAs is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce complications such as subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective To investigate the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) combined with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the preoperative diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of mass-type invasive breast cancer, and to perform a comparative analysis with ultrasound. Methods Clinical and imaging data of 138 patients with suspected breast cancer treated at the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from January 2022 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative pathological findings served as the gold standard. Diagnostic performance indicators (sensitivity, specificity and AUC) were compared between the two modalities. The associations between imaging margin characteristics and pathological indicators, including Ki-67 index and molecular subtypes, were also analyzed. Results Postoperative pathology confirmed 119 malignant and 19 benign lesions. DCE-MRI+DWI achieved an AUC of 0.844 (95% CI: 0.748-0.941), higher than that of US (0.759, 95% CI: 0.639-0.880). DCE-MRI+DWI showed a higher sensitivity (81.5% vs 67.2%), whereas ultrasound demonstrated a higher specificity (84.2% vs 73.7%). The two modalities showed high consistency in the assessment of "unclear margin" (Kappa=0.796). The detection rate of spiculated margin was significantly higher with MRI (52.1%) than with ultrasound (24.4%). On MRI, non-specific unclear margins (ill-defined/lobulated) were associated with high Ki-67 index (P=0.048) and high-risk subtypes (TNBC/HER2+) (P=0.008). In contrast, ultrasound-detected angular and spiculated margins showed no significant association with pathological aggressiveness (P>0.05), and even after combining them into a composite indicator, no effective prognostic stratification capability was observed. Conclusion DCE-MRI combined with DWI is superior to ultrasound in diagnostic performance and prediction of tumor biological behavior, whereas ultrasound serves as an effective complement with its high specificity. The two modalities have stratified and complementary value in preoperative assessment.

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations, electroencephalogram, and MRI features of patients with post-stroke epilepsy (PSE). Methods A total of 93 patients with PSE admitted to the hospital from January 2022 to August 2025 were selected. The relationship between epileptic seizure type and electroencephalogram/MRI features, relationship between stroke type and epileptic seizure type/duration, as well as the relationship between different epileptic seizure types and lesion localization using MRI and epileptiform discharges in the electroencephalogram were analyzed. Results Among 93 PSE patients, the seizure time included early-onset epilepsy (42 cases, 45.16%) and late-onset epilepsy (51 cases, 54.84%). The seizure types included generalized tonic-clonic seizures (24 cases, 25.81%), focal seizures (31 cases, 33.33%), complex partial seizures (20 cases, 21.51%), and focal to generalized tonic-clonic seizures (18 cases, 19.35%). The proportions of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients with cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage (36.36% and 55.00%) were higher than those in patients with cerebral infarction and cerebral thrombosis (6.67% and 11.11%). The proportions of focal seizures in patients with cerebral infarction and cerebral thrombosis (60.00% and 41.67%) were higher than those in patients with cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage (18.18% and 15.00%) (P<0.05). The proportions of early-onset epilepsy in patients with cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage (59.09% and 75.00%) were higher than those in patients with cerebral infarction and cerebral thrombosis (26.67% and 27.78%). The proportions of late-onset epilepsy in patients with cerebral infarction and cerebral thrombosis (73.33% and 72.22%) were higher than those in patients with cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage (40.91% and 25.00%) (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the proportions of lesions synchronously localized by MRI and epileptiform discharges in the electroencephalogram or in the proportion of lesions on the same side identified by epileptiform discharges in the electroencephalogram among different seizure types (P>0.05). Conclusion The epileptic seizure type and time in patients with PSE are closely related to the type of stroke. Electroencephalogram can monitor epileptiform discharges and MRI can assist in lesion localization, providing reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of hyperintense vessel sign (HVS), white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value based on MRI on early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods A total of 120 patients with AIS admitted to the hospital from May 2024 to May 2025 were collected. According to whether END occurred within 7 days of admission, they were divided into occurrence group and non-occurrence group. The general data of patients were collected, and the laboratory parameters such as neutrophil percentage (NEUT%), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen (FIB) and D-dimer (D-D) were detected. All patients completed cranial MRI within 24 h after admission to evaluate the positive rate of HVS, WMH volume and ADC value. Pearson/Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between MRI parameters and END-related indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of HVS, WMH volume and ADC value on END. Results The maximum National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score within 7 days of admission in occurrence group was higher than that in occurrence group (P<0.05). NEUT%, FIB, D-D and hs-CRP were higher in occurrence group than those in non-occurrence group (P<0.05). The positive rate of HVS in occurrence group was higher, and the volume of WMH was larger, and the ADC value was lower (P<0.05). The positive rate of HVS in AIS patients with END was positively correlated with maximum NIHSS score within 7 days of admission, and WMH volume was positively correlated with NEUT%, D-D, hs-CRP and maximum NIHSS score within 7 days of admission, and ADC value was negatively correlated with NEUT%, D-D and maximum NIHSS score within 7 days of admission (P<0.05). The combined prediction had the highest predictive efficiency on END in AIS patients, with a Youden index of 0.689, an area under the curve of 0.898, a sensitivity of 92.86% and a specificity of 76.09%. Conclusion MRI-based HVS, WMH volume and ADC value are associated with END in AIS patients. The combined detection of the three has high predictive value on END in AIS patients, and can provide a reference for clinical identification of END patients.

Objective To investigate the association between low muscle mass and body composition in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 100 patients diagnosed with T2DM (T2DM group) and 100 healthy controls matched for age and gender, who underwent total abdominal plain CT from May 2024 to August 2025 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University. QCT Pro software was used to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) at L1 and L2, the skeletal muscle area (L3-SMA) and skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI) at the L3 vertebral level, as well as the fat distribution [subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and visceral fat area (VFA)]. The muscle area (MA), fat area (FA), and muscle fat infiltration (MFI) of the paravertebral muscles at L3 were also measured. According to L3-SMI, T2DM patients were divided into a low muscle mass group (n=27) and a non-low muscle mass group (n=73). Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationships of L3?SMI with age, gender, BMI, BMD, MFI, VFA, SFA, MA, and FA. Binary logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with low muscle mass in T2DM. Results Before multiplicity adjustment, the T2DM group showed a lower L3-SMI than the control group (original P=0.04), but no significant difference was found in any body composition index between the two groups after FDR correction (adjusted P>0.05). A comparison of clinical characteristics between the T2DM subgroups revealed no statistically significant differences in age, diabetes duration, fasting blood glucose, treatment modality, smoking or drinking history, VFA, or lumbar BMD after FDR correction (adjusted P>0.05),BMI, SFA, and MA, but higher FA and MFI than the non-low muscle mass group (adjusted P<0.05). The two groups differed significantly in gender distribution (P<0.05). Binary logistic regression showed that gender and paravertebral muscle MFI were significantly associated with low muscle mass in T2DM patients (P<0.05). Conclusion Gender and MFI of paravertebral muscles are significant factors related to low muscle mass in T2DM patients based on QCT.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of entropy parameters derived from CT texture analysis, as well as the combined application of ultrasonography and CT imaging, in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data of 156 patients with thyroid nodules confirmed by pathology in Lu'an Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Lu'an People's Hospital) from January 2022 to August 2024. According to the pathological results, the patients were divided into the malignant group (n=89) and the benign group (n=67). All patients underwent preoperative ultrasound and CT examinations. The texture of the CT images was analyzed, and texture parameters such as entropy, skewness, and kurtosis were extracted to compare the differences between the two groups. The patients were divided into the combined ultrasound-CT examination group, the simple ultrasound examination group, and the simple CT examination group based on the examination methods. The imaging characteristics of each group were analyzed, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the coincidence rate for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules of the three groups were compared. Results The entropy value of the malignant group was significantly higher than that of the benign group, while the skewness and kurtosis were significantly lower than those of the benign group (P<0.05). In terms of imaging features, the incidence of unclear boundaries, irregular shapes, microcalcification, rich blood flow, and enlarged cervical lymph nodes in malignant nodules was higher than that in benign nodules (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and diagnostic coincidence rate of the combined ultrasound-CT examination group were significantly higher than those of the simple ultrasound examination group and the simple CT examination group (P<0.05). Conclusion The entropy parameter from CT texture analysis is a valuable quantitative indicator for distinguishing malignant from benign thyroid nodules, with significantly elevated entropy observed in malignant lesions. The combination of ultrasonography and CT imaging provides a comprehensive evaluation of multidimensional imaging features, markedly enhancing diagnostic accuracy and offering a promising approach for clinical differentiation of thyroid nodules.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of Tongyang Jianyao Formula on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and its potential mechanisms, with particular emphasis on its effects on apoptosis of rat nucleus pulposus cells and the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, as well as its in vivo therapeutic efficacy assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods In the in vitro experiments, rat nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured, and treated with different concentrations of Tongyang Jianyao Formula for 24 and 48 h. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine the optimal intervention concentration and duration. Based on these results, the cells were assigned to five groups: control group, model group (10 ng/mL IL-1β), TYJY group (IL-1β+Tongyang Jianyao Formula), TYJY+SB-431542 group (IL-1β+Tongyang Jianyao Formula+10 μmol/L SB-431542), and SB-431542 group (IL-1β+10 μmol/L SB-431542). Protein and mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1, Smad2/3, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 were measured by Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), respectively. In the in vivo experiments, thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control group, model group, low-dose Tongyang Jianyao Formula group (5.4 g·kg^-1), high-dose Tongyang Jianyao Formula group (21.6 g·kg^-1), and celecoxib group (0.02 g·kg^-1), with six rats in each group. An IDD Model was established by needle puncture. After 30 days of continuous intragastric administration, MRI T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) of the caudal intervertebral discs was performed. The degree of disc degeneration was evaluated using the Pfirrmann grading system, and histopathological changes in the intervertebral disc, liver, and kidney tissues were examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Result CCK-8 assay showed that treatment with 0.1 mg/mL Tongyang Jianyao Formula for 24 h resulted in the highest viability of nucleus pulposus cells (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group showed significantly decreased protein and mRNA expression of TGF-β1, Smad2/3, and Bcl-2, together with significantly increased expression of Bax and caspase-3 (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the TYJY group exhibited significantly increased expression of TGF-β1, Smad2/3, and Bcl-2, and significantly decreased expression of Bax and caspase-3 (P<0.05). These beneficial effects were partially reversed by the addition of SB-431542. In vivo, compared with the model group, the low- and high-dose Tongyang Jianyao Formula groups and the celecoxib group showed significantly reduced Pfirrmann grades and histological scores of intervertebral discs (P<0.01), with a more pronounced improvement observed in the high-dose group. HE staining revealed no obvious pathological damage in the liver or kidney tissues of rats in any group. Conclusion Tongyang Jianyao Formula attenuates IL-1β-induced apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells and ameliorates radiological and histopathological degeneration in rats with IDD. Its protective effects may be associated with activation of the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global chronic progressive disease, and renal fibrosis is its core pathological progression mechanism. The two diseases are closely interrelated, and advanced stage can progress to end-stage renal disease and increase medical burden. Currently, renal biopsy, as the gold standard for diagnosis, has limitations such as high invasiveness and complicated operation. Traditional evaluation methods such as estimated glomerular filtration rate are lagging behind, and it is difficult to identify mild renal injury early. Clinically, non-invasive and accurate evaluation methods are urgently needed. Radiomics can extract invisible quantitative features in medical images with high throughput and construct prediction models, providing a new path for CKD diagnosis, staging and renal fibrosis evaluation. This paper reviews the application status, existing bottlenecks and future prospects of ultrasound, MRI and CT. It aims to systematically review the research progress of radiomics based on different imaging modalities in the evaluation of CKD and renal fibrosis, analyze their advantages and limitations, provide a reference for clinical precise diagnosis and treatment as well as related research, and promote the clinical translation and application of non-invasive evaluation techniques.

Non-mass enhancement (NME) lesions of the breast lack clear boundaries and demonstrate no obvious mass effect on imaging, making them difficult to characterize using ultrasound, mammography, and MRI. Furthermore, the imaging features of NME-type breast cancers often overlap with those of certain benign breast lesions, leading to controversy regarding the diagnostic criteria for qualitative assessment. This review focuses on three aspects of the current research landscape: multiparametric MRI, multimodal imaging techniques, and artificial intelligence applications. It analyzes the value of existing studies in improving the qualitative diagnosis of NME lesions and reducing unnecessary biopsies. The aim is to provide insights for future research directions on breast NME lesions.

Osteoarthritis is a common and frequently occurring degenerative joint disease, with its main pathological feature being the degeneration of articular cartilage. Articular chondrocytes have poor regenerative capacity, making early detection and timely intervention for osteoarthritis crucial. T2 mapping can monitor early changes in the cartilage matrix and does not require contrast agents or specialized equipment, which has led to its widespread application among medical professionals. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, radiomics has achieved significant progress in cartilage segmentation and model construction. The combination of T2 mapping and radiomics has shown promise in initially identifying early osteoarthritic cartilage lesions, tracking disease progression, and evaluating repair outcomes. This review begins by elucidating the imaging principles and technical characteristics of T2 mapping, followed by a detailed discussion of image acquisition and post-processing methods based on radiomics, as well as how to extract biologically meaningful feature parameters from the images. It also introduces the latest advances in constructing diagnostic and predictive models based on these parameters. By reviewing the integration of T2 mapping and radiomics, this paper aims to provide a reference for further research and clinical practice in this field, promoting the precision diagnosis and treatment as well as dynamic assessment of early-stage osteoarthritis.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening acute aortic syndrome, and its chronic phase (CAD) carries long-term risks including pseudoaneurysmal dilatation, rupture and poor organ perfusion. MRI demonstrates irreplaceable benefits in long-term follow-up and hemodynamic assessment of CAD due to its advantages of non-ionizing radiation, multi-parameter imaging and high soft tissue resolution. With advancements in techniques such as 4D Flow MRI and high-resolution vascular wall imaging, the role of MRI in CAD diagnosis and treatment has evolved from purely morphological diagnosis to functional and biomechanical assessment. This paper aims to review the application progress of MRI for analyzing CAD morphological features, assessing hemodynamics, predicting wall reconstruction, and conducting follow-up after endovascular interventions, thereby providing theoretical support for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Compared with previous reviews mainly focusing on single MRI sequences or morphological follow-up, this review further integrates the applicable scenarios, parameter values and limitations of MRA, cine MRI, 4D Flow MRI and high-resolution vascular wall imaging in the long-term management of CAD, highlighting the incremental clinical value of MRI in shifting from structural depiction to integrated structural-functional risk prediction.

Gadoxetic acid disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA), a hepatocyte-specific magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, has achieved comprehensive coverage of precise diagnosis and treatment scenarios—from the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions to liver volume measurement, quantitative assessment of liver function, and prediction of the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), relying on its core advantages of dual-phase imaging mode (dynamic phase + hepatobiliary phase) and dual-channel hepatorenal excretion, thus establishing an integrated evaluation system for liver "structure-function". This article systematically reviews the basic characteristics (pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties, imaging mechanism, and safety advantages), current clinical application status (diagnosis of focal lesions, liver function assessment, prediction of HCC prognosis), and core challenges (image artifacts, limited application in special populations, safety controversies) of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. It categorizes and summarizes the core evidence of relevant literature, analyzes the shortcomings of current research in terms of content, methodology, and clinical transformation, and further discusses the necessity, feasibility, and importance of subsequent research in this field, aiming to provide standardized academic reference for the clinical practice and scientific research direction of liver diseases.

Patent foramen ovale is a common congenital heart defect found in approximately one in four adults. Although most cases are asymptomatic, PFO is closely associated with various conditions, including cryptogenic stroke and migraine. Transoesophageal echocardiography combined with right heart contrast echocardiography and comprehensive provocation testing is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of PFO; however, this approach has several limitations. Cardiac computed tomography, with its high resolution and multi-planar reconstruction capabilities, offers unique advantages in the diagnosis and assessment of PFO. This article systematically reviews the research progress of cardiac CT in the diagnosis, anatomical classification, preoperative assessment, etiological screening, and postoperative follow-up of PFO, proposes an imaging evaluation clinical pathway based on CT, and analyzes the existing limitations and future directions, with the aim of providing evidence support for the rational application of cardiac CT in the diagnosis and treatment of PFO and subsequent research.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common and complex three-dimensional spinal deformity. Its traditional screening and follow-up highly depend on whole-spine X-ray examinations, posing a non-negligible risk of cumulative radiation exposure. In recent years, three-dimensional ultrasound imaging has demonstrated significant potential in AIS management due to its radiation-free, low-cost, and dynamic assessment advantages. However, its assessment accuracy, application boundaries, and feasibility for clinical translation remain controversial in the academic community. This review systematically summarizes the evidence regarding the reliability and validity of three-dimensional ultrasound in the multi-planar assessment of AIS, outlines the progress of its clinical applications, critically analyzes the existing limitations of this technology, and prospects future development directions. It aims to provide a reference for clinical practice and related research..