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In this communication, a paramagnetic bifunctional manganese(II) chelate ([Mn(Dopa-EDTA)]2−) containing a catechol group is designed and synthesized. The catechol can bind iron ions on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanocrystals to form core–shell nanoparticles. Both 4 and 7 nm SPIO@[Mn(Dopa-EDTA)]2− show good water solubility, single-crystal dispersion, and low cytotoxicity. The study of the interplay between the longitudinal and transverse relaxation revealed that 4 nm SPIO@[Mn(Dopa-EDTA)]2− with lower r2/r1 = 1.75 at 0.5 T tends to be a perfect T1 contrast agent while 7 nm SPIO@[Mn(Dopa-EDTA)]2− with a higher r2/r1 = 15.0 at 3.0 T tends to be a T2 contrast agent. Interestingly, 4 nm SPIO@[Mn(Dopa-EDTA)]2− with an intermediate value of r2/r1 = 5.26 at 3.0 T could act as T1–T2 dual-modal contrast agent. In vivo imaging with the 4 nm SPIO@[Mn(Dopa-EDTA)]2− nanoparticle shows unique imaging features: (1) long-acting vascular imaging and different signal intensity changes between the liver parenchyma and blood vessels with the CEMRA sequence; (2) the synergistic contrast enhancement of hepatic imaging with the T1WI and T2WI sequence. In summary, these Fe/Mn hybrid core–shell nanoparticles, with their ease of synthesis, good biocompatibility, and synergistic contrast enhancement ability, may provide a useful method for tissue and vascular MR imaging.

Li-Hua Deng,1,2 Hai Jiang,1 Fu-Lin Lu,1 Han-Wei Wang,1 Yu Pu,1 Chang-Qiang Wu,1 Hong-Jie Tang,3 Ye Xu,4 Tian-Wu Chen,1 Jiang Zhu,1 Cheng-Yi Shen,1 Xiao-Ming Zhang1 1Medical Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province and School of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiology, First People’s Hospital of Neijiang, Neijiang 641000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiology, Nanchong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchong 637000, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401122, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chang-Qiang Wu; Xiaoming ZhangSichuan Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging and School of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, 234th Fujiang Road, Nanchong 637000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-13990723836Email wucq1984@163.com; zhangxm@nsmc.edu.cnObjective: PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) is the most promising alternatives to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) in MRI. This paper is to explore the imaging effects of PEGylated SPIO, which is influenced by particle sizes and surface polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating, using as MRI contrast agents at different magnetic field intensities.Methods: Firstly, nine PEGylated monocrystalline SPIO nanoparticles with different nanocrystal sizes and different molecular weights PEG coating were prepared, and then physical and biological properties were analyzed. Finally, MRI imaging in vivo was performed to observe the imaging performance.Results: Nine PEGylated monocrystalline SPIO nanoparticles have good relaxivities, serum stability, and biosecurity. At the same time, they show different imaging characteristics at different magnetic field intensities. Eight-nanometer SPIO@PEG5k is an effective T2 contrast agent at 3.0 T (r2/r1 = 14.0), is an ideal T1-T2 dual-mode contrast agent at 1.5 T (r2/r1 = 6.52), and is also an effective T1 contrast agent at 0.5 T (r2/r1 = 2.49), while 4-nm SPIO@PEG5k is a T1-T2 dual-mode contrast agent at 3.0 T (r2/r1 = 5.24), and is a useful T1 contrast agent at 0.5 T (r2/r1 = 1.74) and 1.5 T (r2/r1 = 2.85). MRI studies in vivo at 3.0 T further confirm that 4-nm SPIO@PEG5k displays excellent T1-T2 dual-mode contrast enhancement, whereas 8-nm SPIO@PEG5k only displays T2 contrast enhancement.Conclusion: PEGylated SPIOs with different nanocrystal sizes and PEG coating can be used as T1, T2, or T1-T2 dual-mode contrast agents to meet the clinical demands of MRI at specific magnetic fields.Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging, contrast agents, superparamagnetic iron oxide, polyethylene glycol

The study is based on XISS(XML Indexing and Storage System) of Dietz’s Numbering Schema to determine the ancestor-descendant relationship. According to the results of research, this paper proposes an improved method of node encoding, realizes its indexing structure, and discusses its query path. Finally, the paper analyzes the property of this improved method.

Based on observations collected during 15 cruises from 2002 to 2007 and on historical data, annual and seasonal variations in dissolved inorganic nutrients in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary and the adjacent area were investigated. The importance of nutrients and nutrient fluxes to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the East China Sea (ECS) was also studied. The results showed an increasing trend in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) over the past fifty years. The changes in the PO4-P concentration fluctuated from 1959 to 2000, but the level has been almost stable since then. By contrast, the SiO3-Si concentrations decreased significantly over the past fifty years. Regarding seasonal variations, nutrients usually exhibited high values during autumn and winter, and the lowest values occurred in mid-summer. A strong positive relationship was observed between the DIN and PO4-P concentrations and the frequency or scale of HABs, indicating that eutrophication played a crucial role in the occurrence of HABs. As for nutrient fluxes, DIN and PO4-P fluxes have climbed sharply since 1980. In the ECS, the DIN increased sharply, but PO4-P concentrations only changed slightly. The increased nutrient discharges, especially DIN, could also have caused the strong increase in the frequency and area of HABs. The areas of hypoxic bottom water off the Changjiang River estuary presented an increasing trend over the past fifty years, which may also be attributable to eutrophication. Changes in the nutrient composition were also investigated in the present study. The N/P ratio increased dramatically over the past fifty years, while the Si/N ratio decreased. The percentage of diatoms decreased from 99% to 73%, while dinoflagellates increased from less than 1% to over 25% during the past fifty years. Therefore, long-term changes in nutrients, especially excess DIN and increasing N/P, could be responsible for the shift in the phytoplankton community structure.

Large macroalgal blooms (i.e. green tides of Ulva prolifera) occurred in the southern Yellow Sea, China, yearly from 2007 to 2016. They were among the largest of such outbreaks around the world, and these blooms likely originated along the coast of the Jiangsu Province, China. Understanding the roles of nutrients in the onset of these macroalgal blooms is needed to identify their origin. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variations in dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus (DIN and PO4-P) and the N/P ratio along the Jiangsu coast from 1996 to 2014 during late-March to April, the months which corresponds to the pre-bloom period of green tides since 2007. A zone of high DIN and PO4-P concentrations has developed along the Jiangsu coast, between the cities of Sheyang and Nantong, since 1996. There was an 18-year trend of increasing DIN concentrations during the pre-bloom period as well as a positive correlation between the U. prolifera biomass and DIN concentrations. Nutrient inputs from rivers and mariculture in the Jiangsu Province may have provided nitrogen that contributed the magnitude of macroalgal blooms that subsequently spread into the southern Yellow Sea. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The aim of this study was to investigate how patterns of lymph nodes recurrence after radical surgery impact on survival of patients with pT1-3N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. One hundred eighty consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma underwent radical surgery, and the tumors were staged as pT1-3N0M0 by postoperative pathology. Lymph nodes recurrence was detected with computed tomography 3-120 months after the treatment. The patterns of lymph nodes recurrence including stations, fields and locations of recurrent lymph nodes, and impacts on patterns of survival were statistically analyzed. There was a decreasing trend of overall survival with increasing stations or fields of postoperative lymph nodes involved (all P

Aim To determine whether diameters of the left gastric vein (LGV) and its originating vein are associated with endoscopic grades of esophageal varices. Methods Ninety-eight liver cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B undergoing magnetic resonance (MR) portography, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for grading esophageal varices were enrolled. Diameters of the LGV and its originating vein – the splenic vein (SV) or portal vein (PV) – were measured on MR imaging. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the association of the diameters with the endoscopic grades. Results Univariate analysis showed that the SV was predominantly the originating vein of the LGV, and diameters of the LGV and SV were associated with grades of esophageal varices. Diameters of the LGV (P = 0.023, odds ratio [OR] = 1.583) and SV (P = 0.012, OR = 2.126) were independent risk factors of presence of the varices. Cut-off LGV diameters of 5.1 mm, 5.9 mm, 6.6 mm, 7.1 mm, 7.8 mm and 5.8 mm; or cut-off SV diameters of 7.3 mm, 7.9 mm, 8.4 mm, 9.5 mm, 10.7 mm and 8.3 mm, could discriminate grades 0 from 1, 0 from 2, 0 from 3, 1 from 3, 2 from 3, and 0–1 from 2–3, respectively. Conclusion Diameters of the LGV and SV are associated with endoscopic grades of esophageal varices.

Purpose To determine whether dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) could monitor progression of liver fibrosis in a piglet model, and which DCE-MRI parameter is most accurate for staging this disease. Materials and Methods Sixteen piglets were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis and underwent liver DCE-MRI followed by biopsy on the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th, and 21st weekends after modeling of fibrosis. Time of peak (TOP), time to peak (TTP), positive enhancement integral (PEI), maximum slope of increase (MSI), and maximum slope of decrease (MSD) were measured and statistically analyzed for the monitoring and staging. Results As fibrosis progresses, TOP and TTP tended to increase, whereas MSI, MSD, and PEI tended to decrease (all P < 0.05). TOP, TTP, and MSI could discriminate fibrosis stage 0 from 1–4, 0–1 from 2–4, 0–2 from 3–4, and 0–3 from 4; PEI could distinguish the above-mentioned stages except 0–3 from 4; and MSD could distinguish stage 0–3 from 4, and 0 from 1–4 (all P < 0.05). For predicting stage ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of MSI was largest among all parameters; for stage 4 AUC of TTP was largest. Conclusion DCE-MRI has the potential to dynamically stage progression of liver fibrosis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;39:872–878. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

To determine whether the volume of resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) measured at multidetector computed tomography (CT) is associated with regional lymph node metastasis and N stage.The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from each participant. Two hundred sixteen patients with resectable AEG prospectively underwent contrast material-enhanced thoracoabdominal multidetector CT less than 2 weeks before curative resection. Gross tumor volume was retrospectively measured on CT scans. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify whether gross tumor volume is associated with regional lymph node metastasis. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare gross tumor volume among N stages, with Bonferroni correction for multigroup comparisons. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine if gross tumor volume could help classify N stage.Univariate analysis showed that gross tumor volume is associated with regional lymph node metastasis (P.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that gross tumor volume is an independent risk factor of lymph node metastasis (P = .023, odds ratio = 2.791). The Mann-Whitney U test showed that gross tumor volume could help differentiate between stage N0 and stages N1-N2 or N1-N3 disease and between stages N1-N2 and stage N3 disease (P.0001 for all). In patients with stage T1-T3 AEG, gross tumor volume could help differentiate between stage N0 and stages N1-N2 (cutoff, 15.23 cm(3)) or N1-N3 (cutoff, 17.16 cm(3)) disease and between stages N1-N2 and stage N3 disease (cutoff, 33.96 cm(3)). In patients with stage T3 AEG, gross tumor volume could help differentiate stage N0 from stages N1-N2 (cutoff, 18.41 cm(3)) or N1-N3 (cutoff, 19.30 cm(3)) disease and stages N1-N2 from stage N3 disease (cutoff, 33.96 cm(3)).Gross tumor volume of AEG measured with multidetector CT is associated with regional lymph node metastasis and N stage.

Aim To determine whether spleen diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) parameters might classify liver fibrosis stage. Methods Sixteen miniature pigs were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis, and underwent spleen DWI by using b = 300, 500 and 800 s/mm2 on 0, 5th, 9th, 16th and 21st weekend after the beginning of modeling. Signal intensity ratio of spleen to paraspinous muscles (S/M), spleen exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (eADC) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for each b-value were statistically analyzed. Results With increasing stages of fibrosis, S/M for all b-values showed a downward trend; and spleen eADC and ADC for b = 300 s/mm2 showed downward and upward trends, respectively (all P

Purpose: To investigate whether and how spleen size measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to stage liver fibrosis. Materials and Methods: Sixteen minipigs were used to prospectively model liver fibrosis staged by biopsy. Abdominal gadolinium-enhanced MRI was performed on the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th, and 21st weekend after beginning of the modeling. Splenic maximal width (W), thickness (T), length (L), and area (S) together with spleen volume (SV) and liver volume (LV) were measured on enhanced MRI and the ratio of SV to LV (SV/LV) was calculated. Spleen multidimensional indexes 1 and 2 were obtained by W × T × L and S × L, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed to determine which parameter could best stage the fibrosis. Results: W, T, L, S, SV, index 1 and 2, and SV/LV tended to increase with increasing stages of fibrosis (r = 0.46–0.796, all P < 0.001), and might predict liver fibrosis stage ≥1, ≥2, ≥3, and 4 (area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.697–1.0, all P < 0.05). Among the parameters, splenic index 1, SV, and SV/LV might be best for predicting stage ≥1 (AUC = 0.941), ≥2 or ≥3 (AUC = 0.875 or 0.978, respectively), and 4 (AUC = 1.0), respectively. Conclusion: Spleen size measured on MRI could be used for staging liver fibrosis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;38:540–547. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The graft copolymer, chitosan-g-AM-AA, was prepared through graft polymerization of acryamide and acryl acid onto chitosan by K2S2O8 initiation under homogeneous conditions in 2 wt% acetic acid. The product was characterized by infrared spectrometry (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption capacities and removal ratioes of the copolymer for heavy metal ions were studied by using medium concentration (about 50mg/L) of Cu2+ ,Zn 2+and Pb2+ at pH 6. The results indicated the copolymer exhibited higher adsorbability than chitosan.

Two typical red-tide algae, Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum donghaiense were selected as studied objects. The nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and the growth of the two algae under different illuminations through incubation experiment were studied. The illumination condition was consistent with in situ. Results showed that P. donghaiense and S. costatum could grow normally in the solar radiation ranged from 30-60 W x m(-2), and the growth curve was "S" type. However, when solar radiation was below 9 W x m(-2), the two alga could hardly grow. In the range of 0-60 W x m(-2), three parameters (NRAmax, micro(max), Bf) increased with the increasing of light intensity, indicating that the light intensity can influence the grow of alga indirectly through influencing the nitrate reductase activity. The micro(max) and NRAmax in unite volume of Skeletonema costatum were higher than those of Prorocentrum donghaiense, indicating that Skeletonema costatum can better utilize the nitrate than Prorocentrum donghaiense.

To determine whether diameters of the left gastric vein (LGV) and its originating vein are associated with endoscopic grades of esophageal varices.Ninety-eight liver cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B undergoing magnetic resonance (MR) portography, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for grading esophageal varices were enrolled. Diameters of the LGV and its originating vein - the splenic vein (SV) or portal vein (PV) - were measured on MR imaging. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the association of the diameters with the endoscopic grades.Univariate analysis showed that the SV was predominantly the originating vein of the LGV, and diameters of the LGV and SV were associated with grades of esophageal varices. Diameters of the LGV (P = 0.023, odds ratio [OR] = 1.583) and SV (P = 0.012, OR = 2.126) were independent risk factors of presence of the varices. Cut-off LGV diameters of 5.1 mm, 5.9 mm, 6.6 mm, 7.1 mm, 7.8 mm and 5.8 mm; or cut-off SV diameters of 7.3 mm, 7.9 mm, 8.4 mm, 9.5 mm, 10.7 mm and 8.3 mm, could discriminate grades 0 from 1, 0 from 2, 0 from 3, 1 from 3, 2 from 3, and 0-1 from 2-3, respectively.Diameters of the LGV and SV are associated with endoscopic grades of esophageal varices.

To determine whether dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) could monitor progression of liver fibrosis in a piglet model, and which DCE-MRI parameter is most accurate for staging this disease.Sixteen piglets were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis and underwent liver DCE-MRI followed by biopsy on the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th, and 21st weekends after modeling of fibrosis. Time of peak (TOP), time to peak (TTP), positive enhancement integral (PEI), maximum slope of increase (MSI), and maximum slope of decrease (MSD) were measured and statistically analyzed for the monitoring and staging.As fibrosis progresses, TOP and TTP tended to increase, whereas MSI, MSD, and PEI tended to decrease (all P0.05). TOP, TTP, and MSI could discriminate fibrosis stage 0 from 1-4, 0-1 from 2-4, 0-2 from 3-4, and 0-3 from 4; PEI could distinguish the above-mentioned stages except 0-3 from 4; and MSD could distinguish stage 0-3 from 4, and 0 from 1-4 (all P0.05). For predicting stage ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of MSI was largest among all parameters; for stage 4 AUC of TTP was largest.DCE-MRI has the potential to dynamically stage progression of liver fibrosis.

To determine whether and how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based total liver volume (TLV) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) could predict liver fibrosis.Sixteen experimental mature mini-pigs (6 males, 10 females), weighing between 20.0 and 24.0 kg were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl(4) dissolved in fat emulsion twice a week for 16 wk, and by feeding 40% CCl(4) mixed with maize flour twice daily for the subsequent 5 wk. All the survival animals underwent percutaneous liver biopsy and DWI using b = 300, 500 and 800 s/mm(2) followed by abdominal gadolinium-enhanced MRI at the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th and 21st weekend after beginning of the modeling. TLV was obtained on enhanced MRI, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was obtained on DWI. Hepatic tissue specimens were stained with hematoxylin and Masson's trichrome staining for staging liver fibrosis. Pathological specimens were scored using the human METAVIR classification system. Statistical analyses were performed to determine whether and how the TLV and ADC could be used to predict the stage of liver fibrosis.TLV increased from stage 0 to 2 and decreased from stage 3 (r = 0.211; P0.001). There was a difference in TLV between stage 0-1 and 2-4 (P = 0.03) whereas no difference between stage 0-2 and 3-4 (P = 0.71). TLV could predict stage ≥ 2 [area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.682]. There was a decrease in ADC values with increasing stage of fibrosis for b = 300, 500 and 800 s/mm(2) (r = -0.418, -0.535 and -0.622, respectively; all P0.001). Differences were found between stage 0-1 and 2-4 in ADC values for b = 300, 500 and 800 s/mm(2), and between stage 0-2 and 3-4 for b = 500 or 800 s/mm(2) (all P0.05). For predicting stage ≥ 2 and ≥ 3, AUC was 0.803 and 0.847 for b = 500 s/mm(2), and 0.848 and 0.887 for b = 800 s/mm(2), respectively.ADC for b = 500 or 800 s/mm(2) could be better than TLV and ADC for b = 300 s/mm(2) to predict fibrosis stage ≥ 2 or ≥ 3.

To determine whether spleen diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) parameters might classify liver fibrosis stage.Sixteen miniature pigs were prospectively used to model liver fibrosis, and underwent spleen DWI by using b = 300, 500 and 800 s/mm(2) on 0, 5th, 9th, 16th and 21st weekend after the beginning of modeling. Signal intensity ratio of spleen to paraspinous muscles (S/M), spleen exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (eADC) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for each b-value were statistically analyzed.With increasing stages of fibrosis, S/M for all b-values showed a downward trend; and spleen eADC and ADC for b = 300 s/mm(2) showed downward and upward trends, respectively (all P 0.05). The area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC) of spleen DWI parameters was 0.777 or more by S/M for classifying each fibrosis stage, and 0.65 or more by eADC and 0.648 or more by ADC for classifying stage ≥3 or cirrhosis. Among the spleen DWI parameters, S/M for b = 300 s/mm(2) was the best parameter in classifying stage 1 or more, 2 or more and 3 or more with AUC of 0.875, 0.851 and 0.843, respectively; and spleen eADC for b = 300 s/mm(2) was best in classifying stage 4 with an AUC of 0.988.Spleen DWI may be used to stage liver fibrosis.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement and tumor size of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) assessed on computed tomography could predict T category.One hundred eighty-five consecutive patients with ESCC underwent radical esophagectomy less than 3 weeks after contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement and tumor size of ESCC expressed as tumor length, maximal thickness, and gross tumor volume were evaluated on computed tomography. Statistical analyses were performed to identify whether degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement and tumor size could predict T category.Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with whole esophageal circumferential tumor involvement was more likely to be at T3 category, whereas tumor without this involvement was more likely to be at T1 or T2 category (p0.001). Degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement could distinguish ESCC at T1/T2 from ESCC at T3 category with a sensitivity of 77.4% and specificity of 74.8%. Tumor length, maximal thickness, and gross tumor volume increased with advancing T category (p0.001). Mann-Whitney tests showed that tumor size could distinguish T category (p0.001). Compared with degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement, tumor length, and maximal thickness, gross tumor volume could be a better differentiating indicator between T1 and T2 categories (cutoff, 5.15 cm(3)), between T1 and T3 categories (cutoff, 11.1 cm(3)), between T2 and T3 categories (cutoff, 17.75 cm(3)), and between T1/T2 and T3 categories (cutoff, 15.9 cm(3)), with sensitivity of 81.3%, 88.8%, 68.8%, and 78.8%, and specificity of 76%, 88%, 67.5%, and 75.4%, respectively.Gross tumor volume of resectable ESCC measured with computed tomography could be a recommended indicator for predicting T category.

To investigate whether and how spleen size measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to stage liver fibrosis.Sixteen minipigs were used to prospectively model liver fibrosis staged by biopsy. Abdominal gadolinium-enhanced MRI was performed on the 0, 5th, 9th, 16th, and 21st weekend after beginning of the modeling. Splenic maximal width (W), thickness (T), length (L), and area (S) together with spleen volume (SV) and liver volume (LV) were measured on enhanced MRI and the ratio of SV to LV (SV/LV) was calculated. Spleen multidimensional indexes 1 and 2 were obtained by W × T × L and S × L, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed to determine which parameter could best stage the fibrosis.W, T, L, S, SV, index 1 and 2, and SV/LV tended to increase with increasing stages of fibrosis (r = 0.46-0.796, all P0.001), and might predict liver fibrosis stage ≥1, ≥2, ≥3, and 4 (area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.697-1.0, all P0.05). Among the parameters, splenic index 1, SV, and SV/LV might be best for predicting stage ≥1 (AUC = 0.941), ≥2 or ≥3 (AUC = 0.875 or 0.978, respectively), and 4 (AUC = 1.0), respectively.Spleen size measured on MRI could be used for staging liver fibrosis.

Based on the data from four cruises that carried out in the Changjiang River estuary and its adjacent areas from 2002-04 to 2003-02, the seasonal variation and spatial distribution of nutrients were analyzed, and the relationship between nutrients condition and the harmful algal blooms (HABs) was also discussed. Results showed that the annual average concentration of nutrient was (17.93 +/- 2.46) micromol x L(-1) for DIN, (0.59 +/- 0.11) micromol x L(-1) for PO4(3-) -P, (15.34 +/- 3.23) micromol x L(-1) for SiO3(2-) -Si, and the study area was in the state of eutrophication. The average concentration of nutrient showed a remarkable seasonal fluctuation with the higher value in autumn and winter and lower value in spring and summer. The spatial distribution of the nutrients was typically such that the concentrations of DIN, PO4(3-) -P and SiO3(2-) -Si decreased from inshore to offshore area, and the contours generally decreased rapidly in down-coast directions. DIN and SiO3(2-) -Si of the study area were largely contributed by Changjiang River diluted water and other terrigenous inputs, while PO4(3-) -P mainly by Changjiang River diluted water and the Taiwan Warm Current. The following HABs showed that its occurrences were usually laid in the areas with higher nutrients and lower total suspended particles (TSP).