Optimization and validation of echo times of point-resolved spectroscopy for cystathionine detection in gliomas.

Background: Cystathionine accumulates selectively in 1p/19q-codeleted gliomas, and can serve as a possible noninvasive biomarker. This study aims to optimize the echo time (TE) of point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) for cystathionine detection in gliomas, and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of PRESS for 1p/19q-codeletion identification.

Methods: The TE of PRESS was optimized with numerical and phantom analysis to better resolve cystathionine from the overlapping aspartate multiplets.

A Multifunctional Integrated Metal-Free MRI Agent for Early Diagnosis of Oxidative Stress in a Mouse Model of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are closely associated with the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and can be regarded as one of its early biomarkers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is emerging as a powerful tool for the detection of cardiac abnormalities, but the sensitive and direct ROS-response MRI probe remains to be developed. This restricts the early diagnosis of DCM and prevents timely clinical interventions, resulting in serious and irreversible pathophysiological abnormalities.

Well-Aerated Lung and Mean Lung Density Quantified by CT at Discharge to Predict Pulmonary Diffusion Function 5 Months after COVID-19.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the predictive values of quantitative CT indices of the total lung and lung lobe tissue at discharge for the pulmonary diffusion function of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients at 5 months after symptom onset. Methods: A total of 90 patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 underwent CT scans at discharge, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed 5 months after symptom onset. The differences in quantitative CT and PFT results between Group 1 (patients with abnormal diffusion function) and Group 2 (patients with normal diffusion function) were compared by the chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test or Mann−Whitney U test.

Automated total and vessel-specific coronary artery calcium (CAC) quantification on chest CT: direct comparison with CAC scoring on non-contrast cardiac CT.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the artificial intelligence (AI)-based coronary artery calcium (CAC) quantification and regional distribution of CAC on non-gated chest CT, using standard electrocardiograph (ECG)-gated CAC scoring as the reference.

Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 405 patients underwent non-gated chest CT and standard ECG-gated cardiac CT. An AI-based algorithm was used for automated CAC scoring on chest CT, and Agatston score on cardiac CT was manually quantified.

Opportunistic osteoporosis screening using chest CT with artificial intelligence.

Unlabelled: Osteoporosis has a high incidence and a low detection rate. If it is not detected in time, it will cause osteoporotic fracture and other serious consequences. This study showed that the attenuation values of vertebrae on chest CT could be used for opportunistic screening of osteoporosis.

Facile access to chiral chromanone-2-carboxylic acids enabled by rhodium-catalyzed chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenation.

Rh-catalyzed highly chemo- and enantioselective hydrogenation of chromone-2-carboxylic acids was successfully established for the first time, providing a wide range of enantiopure chromanone-2-carboxylic acids with excellent results (up to 97% yield and 99% ee) and high efficiency (up to 10 000 TON). The carboxylic group in the substrate was demonstrated to play a vital role and an enantio-induction mode was elucidated by DFT calculation. This hydrogenation protocol provided straightforward access to various bioactive chromanoids.

Asynchronous changes of normal lung lobes during respiration based on quantitative computed tomography (CT).

Background: This study aimed to explore the coordinated and independent actions of lung lobes during respiration using quantitative computed tomography (CT) in order to increase our understanding of pulmonary anatomy.

Methods: Cases for whom test results showed normal pulmonary function tests (PFTs) results, and normal paired inspiratory-expiratory chest CT findings, as assessed by 2 radiologists, were retrospectively included in this study. From the chest CT results, we measured quantitative indices of lung volume (LV) and mean lung density (MLD) for the total lung (TL), left lung (LL), right lung (RL), and 5 lobes in inspiratory and expiratory phases.

A Novel Subtraction Method to Reduce Metal Artifacts of Cerebral Aneurysm Embolism Coils.

Objective: To investigate a novel subtraction method (S-MAR), combing metal artifact reduction (MAR), virtual monochromatic imaging (VMI), and subtraction CT angiography (CTA) to remove the metal artifacts of coils after endovascular embolotherapy of intracranial aneurysms.

Method: In this retrospective study, 29 patients with 38 coils after endovascular embolotherapy of intracranial aneurysms who underwent cerebral CTA using a dual-layer detector spectral CT were included. Conventional CT images (CI), virtual non-enhanced (VNC) images and VMI ranging from 40 to 120 KeV in steps of 10 were reconstructed.

Thoracic Aorta Diameter Calculation by Artificial Intelligence Can Predict the Degree of Arterial Stiffness.

Arterial aging is characterized by decreased vascular function, caused by arterial stiffness (AS), and vascular morphological changes, caused by arterial dilatation. We analyzed the relationship of pre-AS and AS, as assessed by cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI), with arterial diameters (AD) at nine levels, from the aortic sinus to the abdominal aorta, as measured by artificial intelligence (AI) on non-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) images. Overall, 801 patients who underwent both chest CT scan and arterial elasticity test were enrolled.

CT-Based Radiomics Helps to Predict Residual Lung Lesions in COVID-19 Patients at Three Months after Discharge.

Background: In this study, our focus was on pulmonary sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to develop and validate CT-based radiomic models for predicting the presence of residual lung lesions in COVID-19 survivors at three months after discharge.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 162 COVID-19 confirmed patients in our hospital (84 patients with residual lung lesions and 78 patients without residual lung lesions, at three months after discharge).

Challenges Faced with Small Molecular Modulators of Potassium Current Channel Isoform Kv1.5.

The voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.5, which mediates the cardiac ultra-rapid delayed-rectifier (I) current in human cells, has a crucial role in atrial fibrillation. Therefore, the design of selective Kv1.

Pyrazolone structural motif in medicinal chemistry: Retrospect and prospect.

The pyrazolone structural motif is a critical element of drugs aimed at different biological end-points. Medicinal chemistry researches have synthesized drug-like pyrazolone candidates with several medicinal features including antimicrobial, antitumor, CNS (central nervous system) effect, anti-inflammatory activities and so on. Meanwhile, SAR (Structure-Activity Relationship) investigations have drawn attentions among medicinal chemists, along with a plenty of analogues have been derived for multiple targets.

Diagnostic Value of 128-slice Spiral CT Combined with Virtual Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of 128-slice spiral CT combined with virtual colonoscopy in diagnosis of colorectal cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients of colorectal diseases who underwent definition AS+128-slice spiral CT combined with virtual colonoscopy after bowel preparation and gas injection to evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of this technology. All the patients received electronic colonoscopy and were confirmed by pathology.

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a hyaluronic acid-quantum dots-melphalan conjugate.

Polymer-drug conjugates have played an important role in improving tumor cell targeting and the selectivity of anticancer drugs. In this study, quantum dots and melphalan were attached to the backbone of hyaluronic acid to synthesize a polymer-drug conjugate. The physicochemical properties of the conjugate were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, (1)H NMR, UV-Vis spectra and DLS.