ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of multi-slice CT (MSCT) and multi-dimensional reconstructions for congenital pulmonary stenosis (PS) in children.MethodsThe enhanced thin CT images of 33 patients with PS were retrospectively analyzed,the data was transmitted to the workstation for multi-planar reformation ( MPR),volume rendering technique (VRT) and maximum intensity projection (MIP).The CT imaging features of PS were analyzed combining with operation resul ts and Ultrasonic Cardiogram (UCG).ResultsIn 33 cases of PS,there were 17 cases with pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS),10 cases with right ventricular infundibulum stenosis (RVIS),and 6 cases with pulmonary trunk stenosis (PTS).The first two were correctly diagnosed by UCG,5 cases of PVS and Icases of RVIS were correctly diagnosed by MSCTA,the later was correctly diagnosed by UCG and MSCTA.In 14 cases with collateral circulations between aorta and pulmonary artery ( APC ),all were correctly diagnosed by MSCTA,only 3 case was diagnosed by UCG,1 case was misdiagnosed as PDA.UCG can clearly demonstrate the others intra-cardiac deformities,such as ASD,VSD,RVH,PFO,SV,DORV,TECD and TBD,the accuracy rate of MSCTA was 39.4％,and MSCTA can clearly demonstrate the origin,course and diameter of extracardiac vascular abnormalities,such as PDA,RAA,TGA,TAPVD,CoA,PLSV and VLSA,the accuracy rate of UCG was 697％.ConclusionsMSCT and multi-dimensional reconstruction were a kind of non-invasive method,it was a good approach for extra-cardiac vascular malformations and APC in PS.Combining with UCG,it can further be used to improve the diagnostic accuracy of intra-cardiac malformation and supply diagnostic evidence for clinical treatment.

OBJECTIVETo probe the significance of specific IgG4 in sera of patients with cerebral cysticercosis for diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation.

METHODSSpecific IgG4 in sera of patients with cerebral cysticercosis was assessed using colloidal gold-labeled mouse-anti-human IgG4 McAb as probe. The results were compared with the CT image manifestation.

RESULTSThe specific IgG4 positive rate in sera of patients with cerebral cysticercosis was 97.8%, whereas sera from patients with other kinds of parasitosis or central nerve system disease and the control group were all negative, except for a weak cross-reaction of sera from patients with hepatic echinococoosis. The determination of specific IgG4 in sera of patients with cerebral cysticercosis during different times of treatment showed that along with an increase in treatment time and improvement of clinical symptoms, specific IgG4 level gradually decreased. The positive rate and intensity of specific IgG4 in sera from patients with cerebral cysticercosis were consistent with the number of cysticercus parasites in the brain and pathologic changes, such as survival, disintegration, death and calcification. Survival of cysticercus in the brain was objectively evaluated using this technique.

CONCLUSIONSThe determination of specific IgG4 in sera is a practical method for diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of cerebral cysticercosis.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neurocysticercosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective The basic biological, echocardiography and gene sequencing parameters of mice overexpressing Slit2 gene (Slit2-Tg mice) were collected and evaluated, and to provide a reference for the application of Slit2-Tg mice in biomedical research. Methods Slit2-Tg and C57BL/6 J mice were inbred. The genotypes of the mice were determined by a PCR assay. The blood samples were collected for blood routine and biochemical tests. The tissues of main organs were collected for protein expression and pathological analysis. Echocardiography and transcriptome sequencing was carried out for analyzing the heart function and gene expression, respectively. Results The litter size was significantly higher in the Slit2-Tg mice than in C57BL/6 J mice. Human Slit2 gene and protein expressions were detected in the main organs of Slit2-Tg mice. Organ coefficient of spleen was significantly increased in Slit2-Tg mice, but the tissue structure appeared normal. There were significant changes in the counts of erythrocytes, platelets, eosinophils, and biochemistry of glucose, globulin, urea nitrogen, triglycerides, HDL, and atherosclerosis index. Echocardiography showed no significant differences in the morphology and function of the Slit2-Tg hearts except in the left ventricular anterior wall thickness at the end-diastolic state. Compared with the C57BL/6 J mice, 535 genes out of 17513 genes in the Slit2-Tg hearts were increased or decreased, mainly involving 15 biological process or signal transduction pathways. Conclusions This study has collected the biological parameters of Slit2-Tg mice and suggests that this model animal is suitable for the studies of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To retrieve,evaluate and summarize the best evidence of early mobilization in awake patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation,and to provide a reference for clinical practice.Methods UpToDate,BMJ Best Practice,Registered Nurses'Association of Ontario,National Guideline Clearinghouse,National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,Yimaitong,Joanna Briggs Institute Library,Cochrane Library,CINAHL,PubMed,SinoMed,CNKI,Wanfang Database,Vip Database and Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Website were researched to collect the literature,including clinical guidelines,expert consensuses,evidence summaries,systematic reviews,and well-designed original studies.The time limit for retrieval was until June 2023.The quality of literature and the level of evidence were evaluated by the evaluation criteria and evidence grading system of J BI Evidence-Based Health Care Center.Results 14 pieces of the literature were included,including 2 clinical guidelines,4 expert consensuses,5 systematic reviews,2 cohort studies and 1 case series.Totally 33 pieces of evidence were summarized,covering 7 aspects:adaptation conditions for the implementation of awake ECMO,team composition,comprehensive assessment,pre-mobilization preparation,mobilization content,prevention and control of adverse events,and effect evaluation.Conclusion The study summarizes the best evidence of early mobilization in awake patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.It is suggested that medical institutions establish a professional team for the early mobilization of awake ECMO patients,apply the best evidence to standardize the early mobilization process,and formulate an individualized mobilization program.

Objective:This study aimed to analyze differential metabolites in patients using a dual metabolic platform and to orientate early nutritional intervention in patients with cirrhosis.Methods:The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated based on computed tomography (CT) measurements of skeletal muscle cross-sectional area at the third lumbar vertebra level. Pre-sarcopenia was diagnosed for males with SMI < 46.96 and for females with SMI < 32.46. Fifteen HBV-related liver cirrhosis patients with pre-sarcopenia were included as Group S while fourteen liver cirrhosis without pre-sarcopenia were Group NS. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were used to detect differential metabolites and disturbed pathways in the two groups.Results:Five pathways and twenty-eight pathways were defined as disturbed pathways in the plasma of liver cirrhosis patients with pre-sarcopenia by LC-MS and GC-MS, respectively. Most of these pathways are related to amino acid metabolism. Forty-two differential metabolites were imported into the disturbed pathways. Moreover, 3-hydroxypropanal, hydrocinnamic acid, betaine aldehyde, phosphohydroxypyruvic acid, (r)-3-hydroxybutyric acid, and creatinine were identified as potential biomarkers for pre-sarcopenia in HBV-related liver cirrhosis.Conclusions:The study identified a total of 33 pathways and related differential metabolites that were disturbed in HBV-related liver cirrhosis with pre-sarcopenia. The amino acid metabolism, urea cycle, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism pathways may be associated with pre-sarcopenia in patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis. These results provide a direction for nutritional supplementation in liver cirrhosis.

Objective:To examine the impact of berberine on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in mice, and to investigate the effects of berberine on the intestinal flora and the intestinal flora on PCOS.Methods:A mouse model of PCOS was established by administering dehydroepiandrosterone in combination with high fat diet, and the mouse model was given a berberine treatment. The study consisted of a blank control group (C group), a PCOS model group (M group) and a berberine treatment group (T group). During the experiment, the mice were closely monitored through timed body weight measurements and estrous cycle monitoring; intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were done. Upon completion of the pharmacological intervention, the wet weights of liver, ovary and fat deposits of mice were assessed and subjected to HE staining to confirm the success of PCOS modeling and the efficacy of berberine. Additionally, fecal samples were analyzed for intestinal flora through 16S rRNA analysis.Results:The PCOS model was established successfully, berberine alleviated the disturbance of estrous cycle in mice, and significantly alleviated fat accumulation and metabolic abnormalities of glucose in mice. The cross-sectional area of fat pad cells in T group was (2 858±146) μm2, which was significantly lower than that in M group [(9 518±347) μm2], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). The blood glucose levels in T group were significantly lower than those in M group ( P<0.05). The composition and structure of intestinal flora in mice of M group with PCOS (compared with C group) and in mice of T group after berberine intervention (compared with M group) were significantly altered. However, alpha diversity did not change significantly among three groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Berberine could alleviate PCOS by intervening in the alterations of gut microbiota.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma （SRCR） on atherosclerosis （AS） in mice and the effect of SRCR on macrophage pyroptosis in plaques via NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasomes. MethodApoE^-/- mice were fed with a high-fat diet for the modeling of AS and randomized into model， atorvastatin （5 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （1.95， 3.9， 7.8 g·kg^-1， respectively） SRCR groups. Normal C57BL/6J mice were selected as the control group. After 8 weeks of administration， hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pathological status of the aortic plaque. The lipid accumulation in aortic plaque was observed by oil red O staining. The serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） in mice were measured. Immunofluorescence double staining was employed to detect the co-localized expression of EGF-like module-containing mucin-like hormone receptor-like 1 （EMR1）/NLRP3 and EMR1/gasdermin D （GSDMD）. The serum levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and interleukin-18 （IL-18） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein levels of NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein （ASC）， Caspase-1， cleaved Caspase-1， GSDMD， N-terminus of GSDMD （GSDMD-NT）， pro-IL-1β， IL-1β， and IL-18 were determined by Western blot， and the mRNA levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， GSDMD， IL-1β， and IL-18 were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the control group， the model group showed obvious plaques， elevated serum levels of TG， TC， LDL-C， IL-1β， and IL-18 （P<0.01）， lowered serum level of HDL-C （P<0.01）， and up-regulated expression of NLRP3 inflammasomes and molecules related to pyroptosis in the aortic plaques （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， SRCR， especially at the medium and high doses， alleviated the plaque pathology， reduced the lipid content in plaques （P<0.05， P<0.01）， recovered the serum lipid levels （P<0.05）， reduced the macrophage recruitment （P<0.01）， activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes， and pyroptosis in aortic root plaques （P<0.05）， lowered the serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels （P<0.01）， and down-regulated the protein levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， cleaved Caspase-1， GSDMD， GSDMD-NT， pro-IL-1β， IL-1β， and IL-18 （P<0.05） and the mRNA levels of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， GSDMD， IL-1β， and IL-18 in the aortic tissue （P<0.05）. ConclusionSRCR exerts a therapeutic effect on high-fat diet-induced AS in mice by inhibiting the activation NLRP3 inflammasomes and reducing the pyroptosis of macrophages in plaques.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma on plaque stability in atherosclerotic （AS） mice and to explore its possible mechanism of action based on the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodTen normal C57BL/6J mice were used as the normal group， and the same strain of ApoE knockout （ApoE^-/-） mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to construct an atherosclerosis model. Mice were randomly divided into five groups， namely the model group， the atorvastatin group， and the Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma low-， medium-， and high-dose groups， with ten mice in each group. Then normal and model groups were given equal volume of saline gavage， and the low-， medium-， high-dose Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma groups were given 1.95， 3.9， 7.8 g·kg^-1 of the drug by gavage for 8 weeks， respectively. The general state of mice was observed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was utilized to observe the pathology of aortic root plaques and calculate the percentage of plaque area. Masson staining and oil red O staining combined with immunohistochemistry of F4/80 and α-SMA were used to detect the plaque components of aortic root plaques and calculate the plaque vulnerability index. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to detect the expression levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6）. Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2）， matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9）， TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB p65， and phosphorylation （p） -NF-κB p65 in the aortic tissues of mice in each group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） assay was employed to detect the expression levels of MMP-2， MMP-9， TLR4， and MyD88， NF-κB p65 mRNA. ResultCompared with the model group， the general state of the mice in each medication group was improved， and no obvious side effects were observed. Compared with the model group， the percentage of plaque area in the aortic root of AS mice was significantly reduced in the medium- and high-dose Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma groups （P<0.05）. The content of collagen fibers and smooth muscle cells in the plaques of the high-dose Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma group was significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the content of lipids and macrophages was significantly reduced （P<0.05）， the plaque vulnerability index of each dose group of Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma was significantly reduced， with significant reduction of the medium- and high-dose groups （P<0.01）. MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein and mRNA expression levels in aortic tissues were significantly reduced in medium- and high-dose Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma groups （P<0.05）. The serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly reduced in AS mice in medium- and high-dose Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma groups （P<0.05）. In the medium- and high-dose Scutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma groups， the levels of TLR4， MyD88 protein， and mRNA expression in aortic tissues were significantly reduced （P<0.05）， and the level of NF-κB p65 phosphorylation in aortic tissues was significantly reduced （P<0.05）. ConclusionScutellariae Radix-Coptidis Rhizoma may play an anti-inflammatory and stabilizing role by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.