Objective To assess the feasibility of double phase subtraction angiography with second generation (128-slice )dual-source CT in low dose Flash spiral scan mode for the evaluation of cerebral vessel,compared with dual-energy subtraction angiogra-phy.Methods 60 patients underwent double phrase CT angiography were divided into group A (n = 30,with Flash spiral scan mode),group B(n=30,with dual-energy scan mode).The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),the contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)and the av-erage radiation of double phrase subtraction images were measured in two groups,respectively.The double phase subtraction images quality were graded by 2 independent readers on a 5-point scale(5=excellent)in double-blind,according to various degrees of the re-sidual bones,the vessel displayed and luminal integrity,respectively.Differences between two groups were analyzed by Mann-whit-ney test and t test.Results The double phrase image SNR showed no difference to both two groups(P >0.05).The image CNR of arterial and venous phase in group A were higher than that of group B(40.89±8.89 and 40.27 ±9.90 in group A vs 35.28 ±8.43 and 34.89±8.66 in group B;P <0.05)respectively.There were no singnificant difference in the bone removal image scores of doub-le phase and in the vessel image scores of venous phase to both two groups respectively(P >0.05).The vessel image scores of arterial phase were higher in group A than that of group B(4.93±0.25 vs 3.87±0.97;P <0.05).Some internal carotid in the base of skull has not good luminal integrity in group B.The mean dose length product (DLP)in group A was lower than that of group B,with a 39 percent reduction[(226±5.69 )mGy/cm vs (368 ± 21.35 )mGy/cm,P < 0.05 ].Conclusion With the roughly similar image quality to dual-energy double phase subtraction angiography,the cerebral vessels can be assessed using dual-source CT subtraction angiography in Flash spiral scan mode and a lower radiation dose.

Objective To investigate the modulation of EPCs by interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and the pathogenesis resulting from their dysdifferenfiation after trauma.Method Thirty pigs were divided into a control group (n = 15) and a multiple organ dysfimction syndrome (MODS) group (n = 15), the latter of which were subjected to a "two-hit" injury including hemon'hagic shock and endotoxemia. Phosphorylation of p38MAPK in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was monitored by western blotting. The concentration of IL-1β in peripheral blood plasma was determined by ELISA and the numbers of EPCs with FCM in peripheral blood plasma were monitored. The morbidity rates in the two groups were compared by chi square test. The levels of phosphorylation of p38MAPK in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the concentmtions of IL-1β in peripheral blood plasma and the numbers of EPCs in the peripheral blood were compared between groups using with Student's t lest. Results The level of p38MAPK phosphorylation was more augmented and the concen-tration of IL-1β higher in peripheral blood mononuelear cells and plasma from MODS pigs compared with those from control pigs; nevertheless the mauler of EPC conspicuously decreased in the peripheral blood (P <0.01). The morbidity rate in the MODS group was much higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). There were fewer EPCs in the peripheral blood of animals in group M than in the peripheral blood of animals in group C (P <0.01). Conclusions p38MAPK phosphorylation is important for the pathogenesis of MODS. p38MAPK phospho-rylation might cause the concentration of IL-1β in the peripheral blood plasma to rise and could cause a drop in the numbers of EPCs, thereby aggravating the inflanmmatory reaction in MODS.

AIM: To investigate the roles of nitric oxide/L-arginine(NO/L-Arg) pathway and urotensin-Ⅱ(UⅡ) in the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxia-hypercapnia in rats.METHODS: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups(n=10): normal control group(A),hypoxia-hypercapnia+saline group(B),hypoxia-hypercapnia+L-Arg liposome group(C) and hypoxia-hypercapnia+N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME) group(D).Contents of UⅡ,UⅡ mRNA and receptor of UⅡ(UT) mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were measured with immunohistochemistry analysis and in situ hybridization,respectively.Change of small pulmonary vascular microstructure was also investigated.RESULTS:(1) The mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP) and the weight ratio of right ventricle to left ventricle plus septum [RV/(LV+S)] in B and D groups were all higher than those in A group(respectively,P

Objective: To evaluate the association of smoking with the risk of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods: A total of 16 383 186 AS-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 378 smoking initiation associated SNPs and 126 lifetime smoking score-associated SNPs were collected from three large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The association of smoking phenotypes with the risk of AS was examined using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) with AS as a outcome variable, smoking initiation and lifetime smoking score as exposure factors and SNPs with strong associations with smoking as instrumental variables, and sensitivity analyses were performed with maximum likelihood-based method, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test and MR-Egger regression analysis. Results: A 33.5% increased risk of AS was found among genetically predicted smokers relative to non-smokers (OR=1.335, 95%CI: 1.059-1.682), and an increase in predicted lifetime smoking by per standard deviation resulted in a 101.4% increased risk of AS (OR=2.014, 95%CI: 1.341-3.024). The maximum likelihood-based method and MR-PRESSO test showed consistent correlated effect estimations and MR-Egger regression analysis identified no evidence of pleiotropy. Conclusion It is genetically predicted that smoking is associated with an increased risk of AS.

Objective: To examine the association between sleep and frailty using the bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, so as to provide the basis for the prevention and intervention of frailty. Methods: The data on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) related to sleep duration, insomnia and morning chronotype were collected from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and meta-analysis of GWAS, involving 446 118, 1 331 010 and 697 828 participants, respectively. The frailty was evaluated using the frailty index, and the relevant SNP data were collected from a meta-analysis of GWAS involving 175 226 participants. A bidirectional MR analysis was performed using the inverse-variance weighted method. Sensitivity analyses employed the weighted median method, the maximum likelihood-based method, the MR-Egger regression, and the MR-PRESSO test. Results: Forward MR analysis showed that longer sleep duration (β=-0.170, 95%CI: -0.255 to -0.085) and morning chronotype (β=-0.036, 95%CI: -0.058 to -0.014) decreased the risk of frailty, while insomnia increased the risk of frailty (β=0.167, 95%CI: 0.149-0.184). Reverse MR analysis showed that frailty increased the risk of insomnia (OR=1.645, 95%CI: 1.278-2.117). Both bidirectional MR results were robust, which excluded the impact of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Conclusion Sleep duration, insomnia, and morning chronotype are associated with frailty.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; Constriction ; Heart ; Mice

Objective:To systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for spastic hemiplegia after ischemic stroke. Methods:Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of acupuncture treatment for spastic hemiplegia after ischemic stroke meeting the inclusion criteria in Cochrane Library,Medline,Excerpta Medica Database(EMBASE),PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),SinoMed,Chongqing VIP Database(VIP),and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform(Wanfang)published from each database's inception to February 2023 were retrieved by computer.Two reviewers independently extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias using Cochrane's risk of bias tool.Review Manager 5.4 was used for data analysis.Continuous data were evaluated using mean difference(MD)with a 95%confidence interval(CI),and dichotomous data were analyzed using risk ratio(RR). Results:A total of 24 trials,including 1 970 participants,were included in the study.The meta-analysis of 7 trials showed that compared to the rehabilitation therapy,acupuncture therapy was more effective in improving the simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment score after 1-month treatments[MD=10.52,95%CI(7.81,13.23),P<0.001].The meta-analysis of 2 articles showed the same tendency after 6-month treatments[MD=19.18,95%CI(11.34,27.02),P<0.001],and the 6-month treatment course resulted in better outcomes than the 1-month course.The meta-analysis of 8 trials showed that acupuncture had a better improvement on the Barthel index score than rehabilitation therapy after 1-month treatments[MD=10.78,95%CI(8.91,12.64),P<0.001].The meta-analysis of 2 articles showed the same tendency after 6-month treatments[MD=19.94,95%CI(19.02,20.87),P<0.001],and the 6-month course was better than the 1-month course.The meta-analysis of 2 trials showed that the effective rate of the modified Ashworth scale score improvement was more notable in the acupuncture group after 1-month treatments[RR=1.20,95%CI(1.02,1.40),P=0.020].One trial reported no adverse event,and 1 trial reported 3 adverse events without severe influence. Conclusion:Acupuncture might be an effective and safe therapy for spastic hemiplegia after ischemic stroke,but more high-quality,large-sample objectively-evaluated RCTs are needed to validate the conclusion.

Objective To investigate the correlation between contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG),and to develop a new noninvasive method for the evaluation of portal hypertension in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.Methods One-hundred patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were examined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound,and the dynamic images were collected for offline analysis.The contrast arrival time was obtained in the hepatic artery (HA),portal vein (PV),and hepatic vein (HV),and HA-HV transit time (HA-HVTT) and PV-HV transit time (PV-HVTT) were calculated.At the same time,HVPG was measured within 24 hours after contrast-enhanced ultrasound,Pearson correlation analysis was performed between each parameter and HVPG,and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was also used for analysis.Results HV arrival time (HVAT),HA-HVTT,and PV-HVTT were negatively correlated with HVPG (r =-0.385,-0.409,and-0.572,respectively).The area under the ROC curve (AUROC) was 0.903 for PV-HVTT ＜ 2.5 s in judging HVPG ≥≥ 10 mmHg in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis,and the sensitivity and specificity were 74.4％ and 89.5％,respectively.The AUROC was 0.861 for PV-HVTT ＜ 1.5 s in judging HVPG ≥ 16 mmHg in these patients,and the sensitivity and specificity were 80.4％ and 81.5％,respectively.Conclusions HVAT and intrahepatic transit time demonstrate negative linear correlations with HVPG in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis,and among all parameters,PV-HVTT shows the strongest correlation with HVPG and can be used to determine and predict the severity of portal hypertension.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the relationship between collagen degradation and cervical ripening by detecting dynamic expressions of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 8 (MMP-8) in rat cervix.

METHODSPF rats were divided into 5 groups (n=6), namely non-pregnancy estrus interval group, gestational days 10, 16, and 19 groups, and immediately postpartum group. The wet weight of the cervix was measured and HE staining was used to display the general structure of the cervix. VG staining was applied to visualize the collagen fibers and muscular fibers. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-8 in the cervix.

RESULTSHE staining showed that the rat uterine cervix consisted mainly of fibroblasts and fibrous connective tissues. A small quantity of neutrophils could be seen in the cervix stroma of the rats immediately after immediately parturition, but not at the other time points. The wet weight of the antepartum cervix had increased, and a more obvious increase was seen in the wet weight of the cervix immediately after parturition. The collagen fibers of the cervix consisted of collagen fibers and smooth muscle fibers, and their proportions showed no significant variation at the time points around the parturition. Immediately after parturition, the collagen fibers and muscular fibers in the cervix became loosened as compared with that before parturition. MMP-2 expression was found in the cervical stroma but not in the squamous epithelium in nonpregnancy, term pregnancy, and immediately after parturition; the smooth muscle cells, vascular wall, and stromal fibroblasts showed positive expression of MMP-2. Enhanced intensity of MMP-2 staining was seen in term pregnancy and postpartum group in comparison with that in the other groups. MMP-8 expression was observed in the cervix of rats immediately after parturition, with scattered neutrophils positive for MMP-8 spotted in the stroma of the ripened cervix. MMP-8 expression was not detected in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONRipened cervical fibrous tissue becomes loose and broken, and cervical ripening is accompanied by infiltration of neutrophils from exogenous vessels. These changes are particularly evident after parturition. MMP-2 and MMP-8 cooperate to degrade the cervical fibers, leading to cervical softening and expansion.

Animals ; Cervical Ripening ; metabolism ; Cervix Uteri ; enzymology ; Female ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The crude extracts of the fermentation broth from a marine sediment-derived actinomycete strain, Saccharothrix sp. 10-10, showed significant antibacterial activities against drug-resistant pathogens. A genome-mining PCR-based experiment targeting the genes encoding key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites indicated that the strain 10-10 showed the potential to produce tetracenomycin-like compounds. Further chemical investigation of the cultures of this strain led to the identification of two antibiotics, including a tetracenomycin (Tcm) analogs, Tcm X (1), and a tomaymycin derivative, oxotomaymycin (2). Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis, including UV, 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR and MS spectra. Tcm X (1) showed moderate antibacterial activities against a number of drug-resistant pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) pathogens, with the MIC values in the range of 32-64 microg x mL(-1). In addition, 1 also displayed significant cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines, including HL60 (leukemia), HepG2 (liver), and MCF-7 (breast) with the IC 50 values of 5.1, 9.7 and 18.0 micromol x L(-1), respectively. Guided by the PCR-based gene sequence analysis, Tcm X (1) and oxotomaymycin (2) were identified from the genus of Saccharothrix and their 13C NMR data were correctly assigned on the basis of 2D NMR spectroscopic data analysis for the first time.
Actinomycetales ; chemistry ; genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzodiazepinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Data Mining ; methods ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Enterococcus faecalis ; drug effects ; Fermentation ; Genomics ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Marine Biology ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure ; Naphthacenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Phylogeny ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; drug effects