Sulfotransferase (SULT) enzymes play important roles in the biosynthesis of estrogen.These enzymes catalyze the sulfation of estrogens to form biologically inactive molecules. Several studies have shown that Arg213His polymorphism in SULT1A1 gene may be a risk factor for breast cancer. In addition, a low mRNA expression of SULT has been significantly associated with reduced recurrence and improved overall survival in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors. Furthermore, SULT may be a crucial factor in the response to tamoxifen treatment. As an important part of estrogen synthetic pathways, SULTs are closely re lated to breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of USPIO-enhanced and Gd-enhanced MRI in atherosclerosis and to compare the detection rate of atherosclerotic plaque between them. Methods Thirty-five healthy male rabbits were assigned to experimental group (n=30) to establish a model of atherosclerosis by damaging aortic tunica intima with Foley′s tube in combination with a high fat diet and 5 to control group without any intervention. At week 12, USPIO-enhanced and Gd-enhanced MRI scanning were conducted to compare the signal changes of atherosclerotic plaque before and after enhancement with the 2 contrast media. Ninety seven pictures were randomly selected respectively from the pictures enhanced by the 2 contrast media to compare the detection rate plaque between them. Pthology examination was used for detection standard. For the control group , pictures were randomly selected. Results In the experimental group, 7 rabbits died of Foley′s tube damaging, 2 died of raising and 1 died of anesthesia. All 5 rabbits in control group survived. A total of 172 pathological sections were made with 134 plaques and 72 vulnerable plaques pathologically confirmed. In pictures enhanced by USPIO , 84 plaques were confirmed by HE staining with a detection rate of 86.6%. In pictures enhanced by Gd, 72 plaques were confirmed by HE staining with a detection rate of 74.2%. Detection rate of USPIO-enhanced MRI in atherosclerosis plaque was significantly higher than that of Gd-enhanced MRI (X2=3.96, P=0.046). Conclusion USPIO shows its superiority as a new contrast medium in detection of atherosclerosis plaque.

Objective To investigate the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).Methods The HUVECs were collected from human umbilical core,and the expression of the CGRP receptor-1 was identified though immunofluorescence.After HUVECs were treated with CGRP,the angiogenesis was detected through tube formation experiment.The secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected through ELISA method.The mRNA expression of VEGF,VEGF receptor-1 (FLT1),VEGF receptor-2 (KDR) and CGRP receptor-1 were detected through quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) at 3,7,10 days after culturing.Western blot method was used to detect the protein expression of FLT1 and KDR in HUVECs.Results Immunofluorescence result showed CGRP receptor-1 expressed in HUVECs.CGRP could significantly promote angiogenesis and increase VEGF secretion in direct manner.The Q-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression level of CGRP receptor-1 was significantly higher in CGRP groups than that in control group,especially at 10 days.Compared to the control group,the mRNA and protein expression level of FLT1 and KDR were statistically higher in CGRP groups at different time.Conclusion CGRP can significantly promote angiogenesis of HUVECs in vitro,which may be because it can promote VEGF secretion and expression of FLT1 and KDR in HUVECs.Meanwhile,the increase of CGRP receptor-1 expression also can promote angiogenesis of HUVECs.

Objective:To investigate the effect of thrombus burden on the clinical outcome of endovascular recanalization in large vessel occlusive stroke.Methods:Patients with acute anterior circulation occlusion who underwent endovascular treatment within 24 hours after onset in Zhengzhou University People′s Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected. According to the clot burden score (CBS) of DSA, total objectives were divided into CBS≥6 group (24 cases) and CBS<6 group (38 cases). Clinical data of the two groups were collected and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the clinical outcome at 90 days after surgery. Independent sample t-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and χ 2 test were used to compare the clinical data between the two groups. Independent risk factors affecting the clinical outcome were analyzed by binary logistic regression. Results:There were no statistically significant differences in basic demographic data, stroke risk factors and other factors between the CBS≥6 group and CBS<6 group ( P>0.05).The proportion of using tirofiban after surgery in the CBS≥6 group (63.2%, 24/38) was lower than that in the CBS<6 group (87.5%, 21/24) (χ2=4.380, P=0.044). The discharge NIHSS score of the CBS≥6 group was [5.0 (3.3, 7.8) points] lower than CBS<6 group [8.5 (1.8, 14.5) points] ( Z=5.221, P=0.022). The proportion of postoperative mRS 0-2 was (91.7%, 22/24) in the CBS≥6 group higher than CBS<6 group(39.5%, 15/38) (χ2=20.486, P=0.001), there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05). The results of binary logistics regression analysis showed the CBS groups (OR=0.042, 95%CI 0.007-0.244 , P=0.001) was an independent risk factor affecting good outcome. Subgroup analysis of whether tirofiban was used or not showed there was no statistically significant difference in clinical prognosis between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The clinical outcome of CBS≥6 group is significantly better than that of CBS<6 group, and patients with small thrombus burden are more likely to get a good clinical outcome of 90 days.

Objective To demonstrate the feasibility of DTI in human calf with body phased-array coil and surface coil of spine as receiving coil on 3 T system, and to optimize the parameters of sequence, including slice thickness and b-value. Methods Fifteen healthy volunteers were recruited in this study and randomly divided into three groups. The DTI sequence for head was performed on calf in the first group (5 cases), and the sequence parameters were optimized based on the deficits of the raw and the post-processed DTI images. Then, different slice thickness were applied in the senond group (5 eases) to optimize the slice thickness, and this optimized parameter with the highest score based on quality of the post-processed DTI images was applied in the next step. Finally, different b values were applied in the last group to optimize this parameters. The b value with the highest score based on the quality of the pest-processed was the proper one. Results Three problems existed in the raw and the pest-processed images, when the DTI sequence for brain was used for the calf. First, the SNR of raw images is extremely low. Second, the muscle were unclear on the image with parts of signal lose, especially in the anterior tibialis muscle. Finally, the artifacts due to chemical shift and ghost are quite serious. The scores for muscle display quality with slice thickness of 4 mm , 5 mm and 6 mm were (7.0±0. 0), (8.6±0. 9) and (9.0±0. 0) score respectively, the signal less scores were (5.0±0. 0) and ( 12. 8±2. 6) and ( 13. 8±2. 2) score respectively, and the general score were (22. 0±0. 0) and (30. 1±3.8) and (31.0±4. 1 ) score respectively. The differences of above scores were significant among different slice thickness (F-value were 21. 000 and 30. 544 and 12. 390 respectively, P <0. 05 ). The muscle displaying quality, signal loss and general scores were lowest in group with 4 mm slice thickness (q-value were 4. 896.6. 120,6. 327,7. 138,3. 863 and 4. 043, P < 0. 05 ) o The scores of muscle display quality, signal loss and general for b =400 s/mm2 were (9. 0±0. 0), ( 14. 0± 2. 2 ) and ( 33.0±2. 2 ) score respectively, which were lower than those with b = 800 s/ram2 [(7.0±0.0), (6.2±2.2), (21.8±3.4) score] and b=1000 s/mm2[(7.0±0.0), (5.0±0.0), (20.6±2.2) score] (q-value were 3.873,3.873,6.650,7.672,7. 101 and 5.917, P <0.05)o The scores of muscle displaying quality, signal loss and general for b =600 s/mm2 were (8.2±1.1 ), ( 13.0± 2. 3) and ( 30. 8±3. 8 ) score respectively, which were higher than those with b = 800 s/mm2 and b= 1000 s/nun2 (q-value were 3.873, 3.873, 5.797, 6.820, 5.326 and 5.917, P <0.05).There is no significant difference between b = 600 s/ram2 and 400 s/ram2 ( q-value were 2. 582 and 0. 852 and 1. 775, P > 0. 05 ). Conclusion Our preliminary findings indicate that it is feasible to perform DTI on human calf with 3 T MR. With body phased-array coil and surface coil of spine as receiving coil, the DTI sequence were optimized to acquire enough SNB with slice thickness of 5 mm and b-value of 400 s/mm2.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of high-density sign of flat-panel CT (FDCT) after endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the anterior circulation of large vessels and their relation with hemorrhagic transformation.Methods:Seventy-eight patients with AIS in the anterior circulation of large vessels accepted endovascular treatment in our hospital from March 2018 to June 2019 were chosen in our study. All patients underwent FDCT, and they were grouped according to the presence of local high-density sign and occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation. The baseline and clinical data of patients from high-density sign group and non-high-density sign group, and from hemorrhagic transformation group and non-hemorrhagic transformation group were compared and analyzed. The correlation between high-density sign and hemorrhagic transformation was analyzed. The morphological characteristics and distribution of FDCT high-density sign in patients from high-density sign group were analyzed, and univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors for post-operative hemorrhagic transformation in patients from the high-density sign group.Results:(1) The incidence of high-density sign in these patients after endovascular treatment was 41.0% (32/78); as compared with patients in the non-high-density sign group, patients in the high-density sign group had significantly higher rate of hemorrhagic transformation (6.5% vs. 53.1%, P<0.05) and significantly higher 3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores (2.0 [1.0, 3.0] vs. 3.9 [3.0, 5.3], P<0.05). (2) The incidence of hemorrhagic transformation after endovascular treatment was 25.6% (20/78); as compared with those in the non-hemorrhagic transformation group, patients in the hemorrhage transformation group had statistically higher incidence of high-density sign in FDCT (31% vs. 70%, P<0.05); multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that FDCT high density sign was an independent risk factor for hemorrhage transformation after endovascular treatment ( OR=1.823, 95%CI: 1.125-2.358, P=0.000). (3) In the 32 patients with FDCT high-density sign, 4 (12.5%), 13 (40.6%) and 7 (21.9%) had high-density sign in the cortex and subcortex, basal ganglia, and subarachnoid space, whose hemorrhagic transformation incidences were 75% (3/4), 53.8% (7/13), and 57.1% (4/7), respectively, and mean 3-month mRS scores were 4.5, 3.0 and 4.0, respectively; another 8 patients (25%) had endovascular FDCT high-density sign, whose hemorrhagic transformation incidence was 87.5% (7/8), and 3-month mRS scores were ≥4. (4) Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the vascular opening time ≤6 h was a protective factor for hemorrhage transformation in patients with FDCT high-density sign ( OR=0.687, 95%CI: 0.193-0.936, P=0.044). Conclusions:In patients with AIS in the anterior circulation of large vessels accepted endovascular treatment, FDCT high-density sign indicates high risk of hemorrhage transformation and poor prognosis, especially in patients having high-density sign in the cerebral cortex, subcortical area and intravascular area. Minimizing the vascular opening time may reduce the risk of hemorrhagic transformation in patients with FDCT high-density sign.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (USPIO-MRA) combined with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 detection for detecting atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits.

METHODSTwenty-four normal male rabbits were randomly assigned (n=8) into group A with atherosclerosis induced by damaging the aortic tunica intima with Foley's tube in combination with a high fat diet, group B with a high fat diet, and group C without any intervention. At week 12, plain and USPIO-MRA was performed in all the 24 rabbits and the results were compared with pathological examinations; blood samples were collected from the ear vein to examine blood lipids and levels of IL-6 and IL-10.

RESULTSThe rabbits in groups A and B showed significantly different IL-6 levels (167 ± 21.3 vs 116 ± 14.3 pg/ml, P<0.05) but comparable blood lipids and IL-10 levels (P>0.05). The levels of IL-6, IL-10, TC, TG, and LDL, but not HDL, differed significantly between groups A and C and between groups B and C (P<0.01). Continuous MRA scan showed significantly different signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) between the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONUSPIO-MRA combined with IL-6 and IL-10 detection is feasible in detecting atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Contrast Media ; Dextrans ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnosis ; Rabbits

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of endovascular recanalization treatment for acute vertebral basilar artery occlusion (AVBAO) underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) using a balloon-mounted stent.Methods:A total of 16 cases of consecutive AVBAO patients who underwent endovascular treatment with the balloon-mounted stent within 24 h after onset were retrospectively enrolled in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from February 2017 to August 2019. And the recanalization rate, operation-related complications, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, the improvement of 1 week National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and 3 months modified Rankin Scale (mRS) after treatment were recorded.Results:In all of the 16 patients, 4 patients underwent direct stenting angioplasty, 12 patients received salvage stenting. Stent placement was successful in all 16 patients. Balloon-mounted stent were implanted in basilar artery of 4 cases, in intracranial segment of vertebral artery of 8 cases, and in origination segment of vertebral artery of 4 cases. Recanalization was successful (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grade 2b and 3) in 15 patients. The time between arterial puncture and recanalization was 79.0 (72.3, 109.3) min. One patient experienced distal thrombosis during surgery. Two patients suffered symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48 h after surgery. The scores of the NIHSS were improved more than 4 points at 1 week after operation in 8 patients. At 3 months follow-up, 9 patients had a good outcome (mRS 0-3 points) and 4 patients died.Conclusion:Selective stenting angioplasty treatment with a balloon-mounted stent seems to be feasible and safe for AVBAO patients underlying ICAD.

Objective:To investigate the pathogenesis, selection of endovascular treatment (EVT) strategies, and efficacies of acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (AVBAO) of different lesion sites.Methods:One hundred and five patients with AVBAO, admitted to and accepted EVT in our hospital from February 2017 to September 2019, were chosen in our study. The data of disease onset, imaging findings, EVT status, perioperative complications, and prognoses of these patients were collected. According to DSA results, the involved lesions were divided into 4 sites: the upper segment of basilar artery (BA), the middle segment of BA, the lower segment of BA, and the intracranial segment of vertebral artery (V4 segment), and patients with tandem lesions would be recorded as distal lesions. The risk factors, EVT strategies, and prognoses 90 d after follow-up (modified Rankin scale [mRS] scores≤3: good prognosis) were compared in patients with 4 different lesion sites.Results:There were significant differences in etiological classifications and percentage of patients combined with atrial fibrillation among patients with 4 different lesion sites ( P<0.05). There was significant difference in proportion of patients accepted emergency stent implantation among patients with 4 different lesion sites ( P<0.05): those with lesions at the V4 segment had the highest proportion of patients accepted emergency stent implantation (79.55%), followed by those with lesions at the lower segment of BA (50.00%). There was significant difference in EVT time (the time from arterial puncture to successful recanalization of occluded vessels) among patients with 4 different lesion sites ( P<0.05): the EVT time in patients with lesions at the middle segment of BA was the shortest (87.5 [58.5, 130.8] min), and the EVT time in patients with lesions at the lower segment of BA was the longest (115.0 [81.0, 163.0] min). There was no statistical difference among patients with different lesion sites in good prognosis rate 90 d after follow-up ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The pathogenesis of patients with different AVBAO lesion sites is different, so different EVT strategies should be adopted.

Objective To investigate the safety of endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with pre-existing intracranial aneurysms. Methods Seven patients with acute ischemic stroke combined with intracranial aneurysms, admitted to and received endovascular treatment in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2016, were chosen. The clinical data and safety were analyzed retrospectively. Results All patients with pre-existing intracranial aneurysms suffered acute large artery occlusion achieved successful endovascular re-canalization, and one patient suffered subarachnoid hemorrhage due to the rupture of aneurysm during the procedure. Three patients had grading 2b of Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI), and 4 had grading 3 of TICI. Four patients had 0-2 scores of modified Rankin Scale (mRS), one had 3 scores, and two died. Conclusion Endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with pre-existing intracranial aneurysms is safe.