BACKGROUND Regional lymph node metastasis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is not uncommon, and is often under-or misdiagnosed. Regional lymph node metastasis is associated with a negative prognosis in pa...BACKGROUND Regional lymph node metastasis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is not uncommon, and is often under-or misdiagnosed. Regional lymph node metastasis is associated with a negative prognosis in patients with HCC, and surgical resection of lymph node metastasis is considered feasible and efficacious in improving the survival and prognosis. It is critical to characterize lymph node preoperatively. There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal method for the assessment of regional lymph nodes in patients with HCC.AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of single source dual energy computed tomography(CT) in regional lymph node assessment for HCC patients.METHODS Forty-three patients with pathologically confirmed HCC who underwent partial hepatectomy with lymphadenectomy were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent dual-energy CT preoperatively. Regional lymph nodes(n = 156) were divided into either a metastatic(group P, n = 52) or a non-metastasis group(group N, n = 104), and further, according to pathology, divided into an active hepatitis(group P1, n = 34; group N1, n = 73) and a non-active hepatitis group(group P2, n = 18; group N2, n = 31). The maximal short axis diameter(MSAD),iodine concentration(IC), normalized IC(NIC), and the slope of the spectralcurve(λ_(HU)) of each group in the arterial phase(AP), portal phase(PP), and delayed phase(DP) were analyzed.RESULTS Analysis of the MSAD, IC, NIC, and λ_(HU) showed statistical differences between groups P and N(P < 0.05) during all three phases. To distinguish benign from metastatic lymph nodes, the diagnostic efficacy of IC, NIC, and λ_(HU) in the PP was the best among the three phases(AP, PP, and DP), with a sensitivity up to 81.9%,83.9%, and 81.8%, and a specificity up to 82.4%, 84.1% and 84.1%, respectively.The diagnostic value of combined analyses of MSAD with IC, NIC, or λ_(HU) in the PP was superior to the dual energy CT parameters alone, with a sensitivity up to84.5%, 86.9%, and 86.2%, and a specificity up to 83.0%, 展开更多
Background Osteoporosis and vertebral factures are well recognized features in patients with ankylosing spondylitis （AS）.The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis and v...Background Osteoporosis and vertebral factures are well recognized features in patients with ankylosing spondylitis （AS）.The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in patients with AS.Methods Fifty-nine AS patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.Bone mineral density （BMD） was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry （DEXA） at posterior-anterior （PA） lumbar,lateral lumbar and hip regions.Thoracic and lumbar X-rays were obtained for morphometric measurements.Clinical,biological and radiological statuses were evaluated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index （BASDAI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index （BASMI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index （BASFI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index-total （BASRI-t）,erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR） and the C-reactive protein levels.Results Osteoporosis was present in 32% of patients and 5% of controls according to lateral vertebral BMD measurements.Fracture was present in 31% of patients.The effect of some clinical and laboratory parameters on BMD status and vertebral fractures was analyzed in the patient group.Osteoporosis in lateral lumbar DEXA was associated with higher BASMI,BASFI,BASRI-t scores and ESR level.Low hip BMD was associated with low BMI and high BASFI and BASRI-t scores.Vertebral fractures were associated with advanced age,longer disease duration,longer duration since diagnosis,higher BASMI and BASRI-t scores,higher ESR level,reduced femoral and lateral lumbar BMD.Logistic regression analysis revealed that only BASRI-t score was significantly associated with low lateral spinal BMD and BMI and BASFI score were independently associated with low hip BMD.The presence of compression fractures was independently associated with BASRI-t score and low lateral lumbar BMD.Conclusions Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in AS seem to be related to the extent of radiological involvement.A low lateral lumbar BMD 展开更多
The parallel corporate average fuel consumption(CAFC)and new energy vehicle(NEV)credit schemes that have been introduced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China is an innovative attempt to simu...The parallel corporate average fuel consumption(CAFC)and new energy vehicle(NEV)credit schemes that have been introduced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China is an innovative attempt to simultaneously regulate conventional gasoline vehicles(CGVs)and NEVs in the passenger vehicle sector that is expected to function as a long-term management mechanism for CGVs to be more energy-efficient and NEVs to be well-promoted.This will have a significant impact on trends in China’s automotive industry and automakers’business decisions.Taking the cases of four typical automakers with different levels of average fuel economy in their CGVs and advanced NEV production,scenario analysis has been applied to generate these automakers’alternatives in relation to compliance with the dual-credit regulations in force from 2017 to 2020 based on the Interim Measures on the Joint Management of CAFC and NEV Credits(Draft).These automakers’alternative approaches to compliance are compared.Further,in view of the financial losses as a result of halted production if they fail to comply,the values of CAFC and NEV credits and corresponding influencing factors are analyzed from the automakers’perspective.Finally,the most cost-effective compliance strategies for these automakers are summarized and suggested improvements in the regulations are proposed for the government.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Regional lymph node metastasis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is not uncommon, and is often under-or misdiagnosed. Regional lymph node metastasis is associated with a negative prognosis in patients with HCC, and surgical resection of lymph node metastasis is considered feasible and efficacious in improving the survival and prognosis. It is critical to characterize lymph node preoperatively. There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal method for the assessment of regional lymph nodes in patients with HCC.AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of single source dual energy computed tomography(CT) in regional lymph node assessment for HCC patients.METHODS Forty-three patients with pathologically confirmed HCC who underwent partial hepatectomy with lymphadenectomy were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent dual-energy CT preoperatively. Regional lymph nodes(n = 156) were divided into either a metastatic(group P, n = 52) or a non-metastasis group(group N, n = 104), and further, according to pathology, divided into an active hepatitis(group P1, n = 34; group N1, n = 73) and a non-active hepatitis group(group P2, n = 18; group N2, n = 31). The maximal short axis diameter(MSAD),iodine concentration(IC), normalized IC(NIC), and the slope of the spectralcurve(λ_(HU)) of each group in the arterial phase(AP), portal phase(PP), and delayed phase(DP) were analyzed.RESULTS Analysis of the MSAD, IC, NIC, and λ_(HU) showed statistical differences between groups P and N(P < 0.05) during all three phases. To distinguish benign from metastatic lymph nodes, the diagnostic efficacy of IC, NIC, and λ_(HU) in the PP was the best among the three phases(AP, PP, and DP), with a sensitivity up to 81.9%,83.9%, and 81.8%, and a specificity up to 82.4%, 84.1% and 84.1%, respectively.The diagnostic value of combined analyses of MSAD with IC, NIC, or λ_(HU) in the PP was superior to the dual energy CT parameters alone, with a sensitivity up to84.5%, 86.9%, and 86.2%, and a specificity up to 83.0%,
文摘Background Osteoporosis and vertebral factures are well recognized features in patients with ankylosing spondylitis （AS）.The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in patients with AS.Methods Fifty-nine AS patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.Bone mineral density （BMD） was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry （DEXA） at posterior-anterior （PA） lumbar,lateral lumbar and hip regions.Thoracic and lumbar X-rays were obtained for morphometric measurements.Clinical,biological and radiological statuses were evaluated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index （BASDAI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index （BASMI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index （BASFI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index-total （BASRI-t）,erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR） and the C-reactive protein levels.Results Osteoporosis was present in 32% of patients and 5% of controls according to lateral vertebral BMD measurements.Fracture was present in 31% of patients.The effect of some clinical and laboratory parameters on BMD status and vertebral fractures was analyzed in the patient group.Osteoporosis in lateral lumbar DEXA was associated with higher BASMI,BASFI,BASRI-t scores and ESR level.Low hip BMD was associated with low BMI and high BASFI and BASRI-t scores.Vertebral fractures were associated with advanced age,longer disease duration,longer duration since diagnosis,higher BASMI and BASRI-t scores,higher ESR level,reduced femoral and lateral lumbar BMD.Logistic regression analysis revealed that only BASRI-t score was significantly associated with low lateral spinal BMD and BMI and BASFI score were independently associated with low hip BMD.The presence of compression fractures was independently associated with BASRI-t score and low lateral lumbar BMD.Conclusions Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in AS seem to be related to the extent of radiological involvement.A low lateral lumbar BMD
基金This study is sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing(9162008)Ministry of Science and Technol-ogy of China(ZLY2015017).
文摘The parallel corporate average fuel consumption(CAFC)and new energy vehicle(NEV)credit schemes that have been introduced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China is an innovative attempt to simultaneously regulate conventional gasoline vehicles(CGVs)and NEVs in the passenger vehicle sector that is expected to function as a long-term management mechanism for CGVs to be more energy-efficient and NEVs to be well-promoted.This will have a significant impact on trends in China’s automotive industry and automakers’business decisions.Taking the cases of four typical automakers with different levels of average fuel economy in their CGVs and advanced NEV production,scenario analysis has been applied to generate these automakers’alternatives in relation to compliance with the dual-credit regulations in force from 2017 to 2020 based on the Interim Measures on the Joint Management of CAFC and NEV Credits(Draft).These automakers’alternative approaches to compliance are compared.Further,in view of the financial losses as a result of halted production if they fail to comply,the values of CAFC and NEV credits and corresponding influencing factors are analyzed from the automakers’perspective.Finally,the most cost-effective compliance strategies for these automakers are summarized and suggested improvements in the regulations are proposed for the government.
