Objective To evaluate the value of three-dimensional ultrasound volume contrast imaging (VCI) and tomo graphy ultrasound imaging (TUI) techniques in observing fetal spinal conus medullaris (CM) position and lumbar enlargement of spinal cord morphologic changes,for assessment of tethered cord (TC).Methods Totally 17 abnormal fetuses of spinal diseases combined with TC (abnormal group) were examined by three dimensional ultrasound VCI and TUI techniques.The position of CM was recorded,and the transverse and anteroposterior diameters of lumbar enlargement of spinal cord were measured and compared with 300 cases of normal fetuses (normal group).Results As the growth of the gestational age (CA),CM terminal position increased.All the ends of CM located at L3 or L3 above level in normal.The transverse and anteroposterior diameters of lumbar enlargement in normal group showed good linear relationship with GA.Transverse diameter (mm) =0.677+0.147 ×GA (R2 =0.836,P＜0.05),anteroposterior diameter (mm)-0.994+ 0.152× GA (R2=0.894,P＜0.05).Compared with the corresponding GA fetuses in normal group,the anteroposterior diameter of lumbar enlargement decreased in abnormal group (P=0.002),while no statistical difference of the transverse diameter was found between the two groups (P=0.082).Conclusion Position of CM and lumbar enlargement measure ment can provide valuable reference information for clinical prenatal diagnosis of fetal spinal TC.

AIM:To investigate the effects of high plasma triglyceride (TG) caused by apolipoprotein C Ⅲ( ApoC Ⅲ) transgene on the occurrence and development of abdominal aortic aneurysm ( AAA) .METHODS:The animal models of hypercholesterolemia and hypercholesterolemia combined with hypertriglyceridemia were established by feeding high-fat diet to LDLR-/-and ApoC Ⅲ+LDLR-/-mice, respectively.AAA was induced in these mice by pancreatic elastase. By evaluating the incidence of AAA, relative maximal abdominal aortic diameter, disruption of the elastic lamellar structure and expression of matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs) in the aorta walls of the AAA, the occurrence and development of AAA were compared in LDLR-/-and ApoC Ⅲ+LDLR-/-mice fed with either chow diet or high-fat diet.In addition, an in vitro TNF-α-induced aneurysmal microenvironment model on vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMC) was used to study the impact of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins ( TRLs) from mice with normal or high contents of ApoCⅢon elastin protein expres-sion.RESULTS:Feeding the high-fat diet aggravated the severity of AAA in the LDLR-/-mice.ApoC Ⅲ+LDLR-/-mice fed with high-fat diet had less severe AAA than LDLR-/-mice fed with high-fat diet.TRLs inhibited degradation of VSMC elas-tin protein induced by TNF-α, and in vitro TRLs from the mice with high content of ApoC Ⅲ, compared to those with nor-mal content of ApoC Ⅲ, had better inhibitory effect on the degradation of elastin.CONCLUSION:High plasma TG caused by ApoC Ⅲtransgene alleviates AAA of the LDLR-/-mice induced by elastase and high-fat diet.The effect is probably attrib-uted to the hypertriglyceridemia caused by ApoC Ⅲtransgene.

Area Under Curve ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Population Characteristics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Receptors, Progesterone ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

Objective:To construct a home-based cardiac rehabilitation intervention system for patients after percutaneous coronary intervention, and to provide reference for improving the self-management ability and family support of home-based cardiac rehabilitation of patients after PCI.Methods:Based on the literature study and group discussions, a draft of home-based cardiac rehabilitation intervention system for patients after PCI based on empowerment theory was constructed. From January to April 2021, the Delphi method was used to conduct 2 rounds of expert consultations among 18 experts from 9 hospitals, and the items were modified according to the experts′ advice.Results:The expert positive coefficients of the 2 rounds were 94.44% and 100.00%, the expert authority coefficients was 0.91, and the Kendall coefficients were 0.188 and 0.255. Finally, a home-based cardiac rehabilitation intervention system for patients after PCI was formed, including 5 first-level items, 19 second-level items and 21 third-level items.Conclusion:The home-based cardiac rehabilitation intervention system for patients after PCI is reliable, scientificity and practical, and has guiding significance for promoting the development of home-based cardiac rehabilitation for PCI patients.

Renal fibrosis is a devastating consequence of progressive chronic kidney disease,representing a major public health challenge worldwide.The underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis remain unclear,and effective treatments are still lacking.Renal tubular epithelial cells(RTECs)maintain kidney function,and their dysfunction has emerged as a critical contributor to renal fibrosis.Cellular quality control comprises several components,including telomere homeostasis,ubiquitin-proteasome system(UPS),autophagy,mitochondrial homeostasis(mitophagy and mitochondrial metabolism),endoplasmic reticulum(ER,unfolded protein response),and lysosomes.Failures in the cellular quality control of RTECs,including DNA,protein,and organelle damage,exert profibrotic functions by leading to senescence,defective autophagy,ER stress,mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction,apoptosis,fibro-blast activation,and immune cell recruitment.In this review,we summarize recent advances in un-derstanding the role of quality control components and intercellular crosstalk networks in RTECs,within the context of renal fibrosis.