Objective To optimize the parameters of the low-frequency/low-energy ultrasound combined with micro-bubbles in inducing early apoptosis of DU145 cells (an androgen-independent prostatic cancer cells). Methods In our study, the impact of ultrasonic power, micro-bubbles/cell suspension volume rate and irradiation time were investigated. Three levels of each factor were deifned as ultrasonic power (60, 80, 100 mW), micro-bubbles/cell suspension volume rate (10%, 20%, 30%), irradiation time (30, 60, 90 s). According to the three-factor three-level orthogonal design, nine experiments were carried out. The early apoptosis was detected by lfow cytometry. A new experiment was designed with the optimized parameters. Another group without ultrasound irradiation was designed as the control group. Flow cytometry and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to detect the early apoptosis. Results In descending order, the inlfuence of these factors on the cell early apoptosis were:ultrasonic power>micro-bubbles/cell suspension volume rate>irradiation time. Moreover, the inlfuence of each factor level were:80 mW>60 mW>100 mW in ultrasonic power, 20%>30%>10%in micro-bubbles/cell suspension volume rate, 60 s>90 s >30 s in irradiation time. The early apoptosis rate of experiment group was 10.41%, while the control group was 0.94%. TEM showed apoptotic cells in the experiment group. Conclusions The optimized parameter of low-frequency/low-energy ultrasound with micro-bubbles in inducing early apoptosis of DU145 cells are ultrasonic power of 80 mW, micro-bubbles/cell suspension volume rate of 20%, and irradiation time of 60 s. With the optimized parameters, the early apoptosis rate of the experiment group has signiifcant higher than the control group.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of low-frequency ultrasound combined with microbubbles improving transfection of enhanced green lfuorescent protein plasmid (pEGFP) to subcutaneously transplanted prostate cancer in nude mice, and to optimize the parameters of intensity. Methods The model of nude mice of subcutaneously transplanted prostate cancer were built. Then they were divided into 2 groups including low-frequency ultrasound group and low-frequency ultrasound combined with microbubbles group, each group with 15 mice. Then 250μl of mixture of saline and pEGFP (50μg) were co-injected in low-frequency ultrasound group and 250μl of mixture of SonVue and pEGFP (50μg) were co-injected in low-frequency ultrasound combined with microbubbles group through tail vein. According to intensity, they were divided into 3 subgroups respectively, including group 1 W/cm2, group 2 W/cm2 and group 3 W/cm2, each group with 5 mice. Ultrasound was applied at 80 kHz input frequency with 50%duty cycle for 10 minutes after pEGFP injection. The tumors were collected on the third day after treatment. The expression of pEGFP in tumor was examined by laser scanning confocal microscope (ISCM) and the average lfuorescence intensity were estimated. At the same time, routine pathological examination was performed. The mean lfuorescence intensity of low frequency ultrasound group and low frequency ultrasound combined with microbubble group were compared with one-way ANOVA and those of any two groups were compared by SNQ-q test. Results TThe mean lfuorescent light in low-frequency ultrasound combined with microbubbles group were 23.75±2.54, 30.25±1.67 and 59.60±2.03, which were obviously stronger than those of low-frequency ultrasound treatment group (14.04±1.35, 14.66±0.98 and 14.32±1.20), the difference was statistically signiifcant (the value of q were 18.26, 14.12 and 13.88, P<0.05). The rate of gene transfection increased along with the enhancement of the ultrasound intensity (the value of q were 15.33, 17.81 and 13.79, P<0.05). Histology analyses performed by HE staining showed that there was no damage to the tumor tissues in all groups, tumor tissues were intact and without infection. Conclusions Low-frequency ultrasound combination with microbubbles can significantly enhance pEGFP transfecting into subcutaneously transplanted prostate cancer in nude mice. In certain range, improving the ultrasound intensity can increase the rate of gene transfection.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of transrectal ultrasound-guided improved 13-core prostate biopsy in the detection of prostate cancer.Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted in the clinical data of 82 clinically suspected prostate cancer patients in Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from October 2015 to October 2016.All patients were undergone transrectal uhrasound-guided improved 13-core prostate biopsy and surgical treatment,and the prostate biopsy results were compared with the postoperative pathological results.The accuracy of the improved 13-core prostate biopsy and the standard 6-core prostate biopsy was compared.The complications of improved 13-core prostate biopsy were also discussed.Results The diagnostic results of prostate biopsy included prostate cancer in 26 patients and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in 54 patients.The diagnostic results of 80 patients are consistent with postoperative pathological examination.Two patients were diagnosed as BPH by biopsy,but confirmed to be prostate cancer by postoperative pathological examination.The accuracy of the improved 13-core prostate biopsy and the standard 6-core prostate biopsy were 97.6％ (80/82) and 84.1％ (69/82) respectively,and the difference showed statistical significance (P =0.023).No severe complications were found in patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound improved 13-core prostate biopsy.Conclusion Transrectal ultrasound guided improved 13-core prostate biopsy can increase the detection rate significantly.It is safe and efficacious,and can be widely used in clinic.

Objective:To investigate the association between levator hiatus area, pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) examination and prolapse symptoms.Methods:The prospective multicenter study enrolled 996 female patients between January 2017 and January 2019. All enrolled patients underwent a standard clinical interview, POP-Q examination and transperineal ultrasound examination. Volume data of pelvic floor ultrasound examinations were obtained at rest, during contraction and during maximal Valsalva maneuver. The association between levator hiatus area, POP-Q examination and prolapse symptoms was analyzed. The performance of levator hiatus area on maximal Valsalva for assessing significant POP(POP-Q stage≥2) and prolapse symptoms were also evaluated.Results:There were significant differences of levator hiatus area at rest, during contraction and during maximal Valsalva among patients with different POP-Q stages (all P<0.001). Levator hiatus area during maximal Valsalva showed the highest correlation with abdominal dragging sensation ( r=0.277, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of levator hiatus area during maximal Valsalva for significant POP (POP-Q stage≥2) was significantly higher than that for prolapse symptoms (AUC: 0.77 vs 0.69, P<0.001). Conclusions:Levator hiatus area on transperineal has moderate correlation with POP-Q examination and their association is stronger than the correlation between ultrasound findings and prolapse symptoms.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of transperineal ultrasound in quantitative assessment of posterior compartment prolapse among Chinese women.Methods:The prospective multicenter study enrolled 485 women between January 2017 and January 2019. All patients underwent a standard clinical interview, pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) examination and transperineal ultrasound examination. Volume data of transperineal ultrasound examinations were obtained at rest and in maximal Valsalva maneuver.Results:The higher POP-Q stage of posterior compartment, the lower rectal ampulla position in maximal Valsalva maneuver (POP-Q stage=0 vs POP-Q stage=1, P<0.001; POP-Q stage=1 vs POP-Q stage≥2, P<0.001), and the greater rectal ampulla hypermobility (POP-Q stage=0 vs POP-Q stage=1, P<0.001; POP-Q stage=1 vs POP-Q stage≥ 2, P=0.007). The rectal ampulla position at rest and in maximal Valsalva maneuver and rectocele depth were correlated with prolapse symptoms ( r=-0.200, P<0.001; r=-0.252, P<0.001; r=0.086, P=0.045). The corresponding cut-off values of rectal ampulla position in maximal Valsalva in diagnosing posterior compartment prolapse (POP-Q stage ≥1) and clinical significant posterior compartment prolapse (POP-Q stage ≥2) were 7.32 mm below the symphysis pubis and 12 mm below the symphysis pubis, respectively, with the area under the ROC curve as 0.75 and 0.85, respectively. Conclusions:The ultrasonic measurements by transperineal ultrasound is significantly associated with POP-Q examination in posterior compartment, and it is demonstrated as a useful tool in quantitative assessment of the severity of posterior compartment prolapse.

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.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role and signalling of microRNA(miR)-182 on regulating high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

METHODSThe candidates of miR which might potentially be involved on targeting Rac1 were predicted by applying bioinformatics analysis. The expression of all related candidates miRs was verified by real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) in cardiac tissues of db/db mice and db/m mice. Then the relationship between candidates miR and Rac1 was investigated with Pearson relevant analysis. Neonatal mice cardiomyocytes were cultured and divided into 2 groups: normal glucose group and high glucose group. The level of selected miR and Rac1 in two groups was detected by RT-PCR. Neonatal mice cardiomyocytes were then randomly divided into 4 groups: normal glucose group, selected microRNA mimics control group, high glucose group, high glucose plus selected miR mimics control group. The morphology of cardiomyocyte in each group was detected under light microscope. Furthermore, Rac1, β-MHC and α-SMA expressions were detected in cultured cardiomyocyte treated by high glucose for 48 h after transfecting selected miR mimics by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSA total of 6 miR candidates potentially targeting Rac1 were screened by bioinformatics, which were miR-182, miR-142-3p, miR-140, miR-101a, miR-429 and miR-200b. Among these candidates, miR-182 and miR-142-3p expression was significantly downregulated in cardiac tissues of db/db mice compared with db/m controls (P < 0.05). MiR-182 was negatively correlated with Rac1 by person analysis (r = -0.891 02). Downregulation of miR-182 and upregulation of Rac1, β-MHC, α-SMA were found in high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte. After transfection of miR-182 mimics, hypertrophic changes were significantly reduced and Rac1 as well β-MHC expression was significantly downregulated in cardiomyocyte incubated with high glucose.

CONCLUSIONMiR-182 might be involved in the regulation of high glucose-induced myocardial hypertrophy process via targeting Rac1.

Animals ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Glucose ; physiology ; Mice ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; metabolism