1.Imaging features of mycobacterium in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Jun YANG ; Yue SUN ; Liangui WEI ; Yunliang XU ; Xingwang LI
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2013;(1):18-22
Objective To analyze the imaging features of mycobacterium in AIDSpatients.Methods Twenty-three cases of mycobacterium tuberculosis and 13 patients of non-tuberculous mycobacteria were proved etiologically and included in this study.All patients underwent X-ray and CT examinations,imaging data were analyzed and compared.Results The imaging findings of mycobacterium tuberculosis in AIDS patients included consolidation (n =11),pleural effusion (n =11),mediastinal lymphadenopathy (n =11).Pulmonary lesions were always diffuse distribution,and 14 patients of extrapulmonary tuberculosis were found.Pulmonary lesions in non-tuberculous mycobacteria tend to be circumscribed.Conclusions Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in AIDS patients is more common and usually combined with other infections.Imaging features are atypical.
2.Effects of gas signaling molecule SO2 in cardiac functions ofhyperthyroid rats
Qi YANG ; Ting YANG ; Xing LIU ; Shengquan LIU ; Wei LIU ; Liangui NIE ; Chun CHU ; Jun YANG
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2024;28(2):129-143
Sulfur dioxide (SO2), a novel endogenous gas signaling molecule, is involved in the regulation of cardiac function. Exerting a key role in progression of hyperthyroidism-induced cardiomyopathy (HTC), myocardial fibrosis is mainly caused by myocardial apoptosis, leading to poor treatment outcomes and prognoses. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SO2 on the hyperthyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Elisa, Masson staining, Western-Blot, transmission electron microscope, and immunofluorescence were employed to evaluate the myocardial interstitial collagen deposition, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), apoptosis, changes in endogenous SO2 , and Hippo pathways from in vitro and in vivo experiments. The study results indicated that the hyperthyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis was accompanied by decreased cardiac function, and down-regulated ERS, apoptosis, and endogenous SO2 -producing enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AAT)1/2 in cardiac myocytes. In contrast, exogenous SO2 donors improved cardiac function, reduced myocardial interstitial collagen deposition, up-regulated AAT1/2, antagonized ERS and apoptosis, and inhibited excessive activation of Hippo pathway in hyperthyroid rats. In conclusion, the results herein suggested that SO2 inhibited the overactivation of the Hippo pathway, antagonized ERS and apoptosis, and alleviated myocardial fibrosis in hyperthyroid rats. Therefore, this study was expected to identify intervention targets and new strategies for prevention and treatment of HTC.