Objective To observe the effects of hedysari polysaccharide (HPS) on myocardial fibrosis and the expression of MMP-2/TIMP-2 in model mice of diabetic cardiomyopathy; To discuss the mechanism of action of prevention and treatment of myocardial fibrosis in diabetes.Methods Sixty mice were randomly divided into model group, rosiglitazone group and HPS high-, mediume- and low-dose groups. The normal group was 12 non-transgenic male BKS.Cg-Dock7m+/+Leprdb/JNjumice with the same age. Each group was given relevant medicine for gavage, for 8 weeks. Blood glucose of mice before and after medication 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks was detected. The levels of MMP-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in myocardium were measured by Masson staining. The protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in myocardium were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the model group, the blood glucose of HPS (high- and medium dose) groups and rosiglitazone group decreased significantly. Masson staining showed that the green fibers in the model group significantly increased and rosiglitazone group and HPS high-dose group decreased compared with the model group. Western blot showed that the expressions of MMP-2 in model group and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio were declined significantly, while the expression of MMP-2 was increased and TIMP-2 was decreased significantly, and the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 increased in rosiglitazone group and HPS high- and medium-dose group.Conclusion HPS may reduce the degree of myocardial fibrosis in model mice with diabetic cardiomyopathy. The therapeutic effect of HPS may be to relieve myocardial fibrosis in model mice by increasing the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2.

Objective:To assess the combination of conventional ultrasound with contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in the diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma(UC)of the renal pelvis in elderly patients.Methods:Sixty-seven elderly patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of UC of the renal pelvis and surgically treated at our hospital between April 2015 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Characteristics of regular preoperative 2D ultrasound, color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI)and CEUS were examined.Results:Of 67 patients, 49(73.13%)were found to have localized lesions in the renal pelvis and renal calyces.Lesions in 53 patients(79.10%)could be clearly identified by conventional ultrasound, with 46(86.79%)being isoechoic or hypoechoic, and 7(13.21%)being hyperechoic.Analysis of tumor blood flow by CDFI found 22 cases(41.51%)with avascular lesions, 21(39.62%)with hypovascular lesions and 10(18.87%)with hypervascular lesions.The average value of the resistance index(RI)was 0.64.Enhancement was seen in 62 lesions(92.54%)by CEUS after injection of SonoVue.Compared with the cortex of the ipsilateral kidney, a slow enhancement pattern was observed in 46(74.19%), 14(22.58%)showed simultaneous enhancement, and 2(3.23%)showed fast enhancement.At peak enhancement, 43 lesions(69.35%)had hypo-enhancement, 10(16.13%)had iso-enhancement, and 9(14.52%)had hyper-enhancement, compared with the cortex.Concerning the homogeneity of enhancement, 16(25.81%)displayed heterogeneous enhancement, with tumor necrosis or hemorrhage, and 46(74.19%)had homogeneous enhancement.When the contrast agent washout rate was assessed, a fast washout pattern was observed in 53(85.48%), synchronous washout in 6(9.68%), and slow washout in 3(4.84%).Conclusions:UC of the renal pelvis mostly shows isoechoic and hypoechoic lesions on conventional ultrasound, avascular or hypo-vascular lesions on CDFI, and slow-in, fast-out and hypo-enhancement on CEUS, compared with the cortex.Conventional ultrasound combined with CEUS can help improve the diagnostic accuracy of UC of the renal pelvis.