Preoperative comprehensive malignancy risk estimation for thyroid nodules: Development and verification of a network-based prediction model

BackgroundIn order to avoid excessive treatment of thyroid nodules in the clinic, it is necessary to find a simple and practical analysis method to comprehensively and accurately reflect benign or malignant thyroid nodules. This study aimed to construct and validate a comprehensive and reliable network-based predictive model using a variety of imaging and laboratory criteria for thyroid nodules to stratify the risk of malignancy prior to surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent surgical treatment for thyroid nodules at the Thyroid and Breast Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2018 and December 2020. Binary logical regression analysis was performed to predict whether nodules were malignant or benign. The developmental dataset included 457 patients (January 2018–December 2020). The validation set included separate data points (n = 225, January 2018–December 2020).ResultsIn this study, criteria that showed significant predictive value for malignant nodules included TI-RADS: 4b (p = 0.065); Bethesda IV, Bethesda V, Bethesda VI (P < 0.0001); BRAF^V600E mutation (P < 0.0001); Calcitonin>5 pg/ml (p = 0.0037); and FNA-Tg>30 ng/ml (p = 0.0003). A 10-grade risk scoring system was developed. The risk of malignancy risk ranged from 2.06% to 100% and was positively associated with increasing risk grade. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the development and validation sets were 0.972 and 0.946, respectively.ConclusionA simple, comprehensive and reliable web-based predictive model was designed using a variety of imaging and laboratory criteria to stratify thyroid nodules by probability of malignancy.     

基于弥散张量成像的脑白质微结构分析方法在视路损伤中的应用进展

视觉通路包括视神经、视交叉、视束、视放射及视皮质。常规磁共振检查技术难以发现视路损伤后白质纤维微结构改变,眼科学检查也存在一定的局限性及主观性,且不能探测后视路的变化。弥散张量成像(diffusion tensor imaging,DTI)作为一种新兴的磁共振成像技术,通过各种后处理分析方法结合不同的参数进行分析,可提供组织的微结构信息,并能够直观显示活体白质纤维束,在无创地探索疾病的神经病理机制、评估预后方面起着重要的作用。近年来随着DTI后处理方法的不断创新,其在视路损伤中的研究越来越多。本文在介绍DTI的主要参数及常见脑白质微结构分析方法的同时,阐述了其在视路损伤研究中的应用,并进一步对各种分析方法的优缺点进行总结。     

Fine particulate matter and incidence of metabolic syndrome in non-CVD patients: A nationwide population-based cohort study

Background

It has been reported that particulate matter (PM) is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) while metabolic syndrome is also an important risk factor for CVD. However, few studies have investigated the epidemiological association between PM and metabolic syndrome.

The Relationship Between Air Pollution and Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers in Taiwan

Introduction

For never-smokers (smoked <100 lifetime cigarettes), lung cancer (LC) has emerged as an important issue. We aimed to investigate the effects of prevalence changes in tobacco smoking and particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (PM_2.5) levels on LC in Taiwan, in relation to contrasting PM_2.5 levels, between Northern Taiwan (NT) and Southern Taiwan (ST).

利用Tox21通路数据库评估石家庄市大气细颗粒物中多环芳烃激活毒性通路的风险

目的： 采用Tox21毒性检测数据库中通路数据对2017年石家庄市供暖期大气细颗粒物（PM_2.5）中多环芳烃（PAHs）的检测数据进行分析计算，评估PM_2.5引起毒性通路激活的风险。方法： 在石家庄市河北医科大学远离工业污染源设置1个采样点收集大气PM_2.5，通过气相色谱-串联质谱法（GC-MS）检测美国环境保护署优先控制的16种PAHs的浓度。利用MPPD软件计算各PAHs单体在成人肺泡中的沉积量；检索Tox21毒性检测数据库中芳烃受体（AhR）、核因子E2相关因子（Nrf2）、p53和核因子κB（NF-κB）各通路的剂量反应关系数据，计算各PAHs单体激活各通路的单位强度；结合PAHs在肺泡的沉积量和PAHs激活通路的强度，评估PM_2.5激活各个通路的风险。结果： 石家庄市供暖期PM_2.5中PAHs检测结果显示，苯并[a]芘的日均浓度为9.13 ng/m³，日均浓度排名前3的苯并[b]荧蒽、荧蒽和芘的浓度分别为22.88、17.86及14.31 ng/m³。这16种PAHs以苯并[a]芘为参照的毒性当量浓度为17.74 ng/m³。毒性通路激活风险预测结果提示激活强度最大的是NF-κB通路，其次是AhR、Nrf2，p53被激活的可能性最弱，其中相对应的活性暴露比（AER）值分别为1.97、1.71、0.58和0.28。结论： 石家庄市大气细颗粒物中PAHs的暴露，可能通过激活NF-κB和AhR信号通路增加致癌风险。     

Effects of ambient particulate matter on vascular tissue: a review

ABSTRACT

Fine and ultra-fine particulate matter (PM) are major constituents of urban air pollution and recognized risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This review examined the effects of PM exposure on vascular tissue. Specific mechanisms by which PM affects the vasculature include inflammation, oxidative stress, actions on vascular tone and vasomotor responses, as well as atherosclerotic plaque formation. Further, there appears to be a greater PM exposure effect on susceptible individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.     

Parenchymal calcification is associated with the neurological prognosis in patients with congenital rubella syndrome

Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) results from maternal rubella virus infection in early pregnancy. Abnormal neuroimaging findings have been analyzed in a small number of CRS patients in the past; however, their clinical significance has been poorly addressed. Therefore, we have investigated the neuroimaging findings of 31 patients with CRS from previous studies. The most common finding was parenchymal calcification, which was observed in 18 of 31 patients (58.1%). A multivariable logistic regression model showed that it was associated with psychomotor or mental retardation (p = 0.018), suggesting that parenchymal calcification in CRS could be a prognostic factor.