Objective To investigate the feasibility of using superparamagnetic iron oxide(SPIO)as MRI contrast agent to assess rat nonalcoholic steatohepatitis Kupffer cells(KC)function.Methods Twenty male SD rats were randomly divided into A and B groups,group A(n=10)was the experimental group fed high fat diet,group B(n=10)was the control group fed normal diet After 8 weeks,plain MR and SPIO enhanced MR were performed in all the rats.Blood lipids were measured,and HE and Perl's blue staining in all livers specimen was done.The related results of the staining were analyzed with t test Results Group A TC and TG levels[(6.58±1.25)and(1.53±0.23)mmol/L respectively]were significantly higher than group B[(1.64±0.22)and(0.55±0.14)mmol/L respectively](t=11.716 and 11.588,P＜0.01).Group A and B groups hepatic signal intensity decreased in all sequences after SPIO enhanced,but in group A the level of decline[(34.78±4.51)% and(60.38±3.49)% respectively]was less than group B[(64.96±2.42)% and(81.08±1.66)% respectively]on PDWI and T_1WI,and statistically significant differences(t=-18.451 and-16.240,P＜0.01)were found.In group A the ratio of signal intensity of liver to spleen(1.002±0.141,5.000±0.516,20.004±1.490 and 2.601±0.077 respectively)was more than group B(0.400±0.102,1.500±0.115,0.503±0.105 and-0.300±0.058)before and after contrast enhancement on PDWI,T_2WI,T_2~* WI andT_1WI(t=10.745,19.800,39.168 and 92.785,P＜0.01).Typical histological hepatic lesions of NASH were observed in group A,Perl's staining-positive particles in group A(2.33±0.50)were fewer than in group B(4)(t=-10.000,P＜0.01).Conclusion The high-fat diet induced model of SD rats was close to the human NASH and was easy to establish.Clinical application of SPIO enhanced MR successfully assessed the phagocytic activity of KC in the study,and it suggested that the pathogenesis of NASH was related to the decreased phagocytic activity of KC.

Objective To explore the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by using magnetic resonance iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation-quantitative FAT/R2 * imaging (IDEAL-IQ) technique.Methods Totally 36 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver were divided into acupuncture group (25 cases) and control group (11cases).The patients were performed liver magnetic resonance IDEAL-IQ and the liver fatty component value (F value) was measured before and after the treatment,at the same time clinical indicators of liver function and blood lipid were measured.The Spearman correlation analysis was used to compare the consistency of F value and blood lipid in all patients.The t test was used to compare the differences of liver F values,liver function,blood lipids and other clinical indicators of two groups before and after the treatment.Results There were significantly positive correlation between the fat component and triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC) level (r =0.836,0.852,P ＜ 0.05),and significant negative correlation between the fat component and high density lipoprotein (HDL) level in the fatty liver group (r =-0.735,P ＜0.05),The liver F values,alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) contents and TG,HDL,low density lipoprotein (LDL) and TC contents of the acupuncture group after treatment were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Comparison of each index in the acupuncture group after treatment with the control group,the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture is an effective approach to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,as it can improve liver function and down-regulate lipid level.Magnetic resonance IDEAL-IQ technique can quantitatively detect its therapeutic efficacy.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a common nerve injury in the world, which has a high incidence and disability rate. Intraspinal pressure (ISP) monitoring is performed by placing a pressure sensing probe under the dura of the most severe part of the spinal cord injury after anterior/posterior laminectomy or vertebral body decompression. ISP value is monitored dynamically and objectively in real time by the pressure sensing system. Recent studies have found that ISP monitoring plays an important role in the clinical management and prognosis evaluation of TSCI. The author reviews the recent advance in ISP monitoring in TSCI in order to provide references for the improvement of clinical diagnosis and treatment of TSCI.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a common nerve injury in the world, which has a high incidence and disability rate. Intraspinal pressure (ISP) monitoring is performed by placing a pressure sensing probe under the dura of the most severe part of the spinal cord injury after anterior/posterior laminectomy or vertebral body decompression. ISP value is monitored dynamically and objectively in real time by the pressure sensing system. Recent studies have found that ISP monitoring plays an important role in the clinical management and prognosis evaluation of TSCI. The author reviews the recent advance in ISP monitoring in TSCI in order to provide references for the improvement of clinical diagnosis and treatment of TSCI.

Different degrees of visual function impairment is the main reason for first visit of children with optic pathway glioma; it seriously affects the quality of life of children. Early diagnosis, timely treatment, maximum preservation or restoration of the children's vision function, and improvement of quality of life of children are major challenges. This article reviews the recent advance in visual function assessments for children with optic pathway glioma, aiming to provide some references for early clinical objective assessment of visual function impairment and clear diagnosis.

Background: and Purpose We investigated the causal relationships between the gut microbiota (GM), stroke, and potential metabolite mediators using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: We leveraged the summary statistics of GM (n=18,340 in the MiBioGen consortium), blood metabolites (n=115,078 in the UK Biobank), and stroke (cases n=60,176 and controls n=1,310,725 in the Global Biobank Meta-Analysis Initiative) from the largest genome-wide association studies to date. We performed bidirectional MR analyses to explore the causal relationships between the GM and stroke, and two mediation analyses, two-step MR and multivariable MR, to discover potential mediating metabolites. Results: Ten taxa were causally associated with stroke, and stroke led to changes in 27 taxa. In the two-step MR, Bifidobacteriales order, Bifidobacteriaceae family, Desulfovibrio genus, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), phospholipids in high-density lipoprotein (HDL_PL), and the ratio of apolipoprotein B to ApoA1 (ApoB/ApoA1) were causally associated with stroke (all P<0.044). The causal associations between Bifidobacteriales order, Bifidobacteriaceae family and stroke were validated using the weighted median method in an independent cohort. The three GM taxa were all positively associated with ApoA1 and HDL_PL, whereas Desulfovibrio genus was negatively associated with ApoB/ApoA1 (all P<0.010). Additionally, the causal associations between the three GM taxa and ApoA1 remained significant after correcting for the false discovery rate (all q-values <0.027). Multivariable MR showed that the associations between Bifidobacteriales order, Bifidobacteriaceae family and stroke were mediated by ApoA1 and HDL_PL, each accounting for 6.5% (P=0.028) and 4.6% (P=0.033); the association between Desulfovibrio genus and stroke was mediated by ApoA1, HDL_PL, and ApoB/ApoA1, with mediated proportions of 7.6% (P=0.019), 4.2% (P=0.035), and 9.1% (P=0.013), respectively. Conclusion The current MR study provides evidence supporting the causal relationships between several specific GM taxa and stroke and potential mediating metabolites.

Bone homeostasis is a relative balance between bone formation and resorption. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which is closely related to bone homeostasis, takes part in multiple intracellular and extracellular signal pathways. STAT3 participates in the process of osteoblast differentiation regulated by several factors. It can also maintain bone homeostasis by regulating the recruitment, differentiation and activation of osteoclasts. In addition, STAT3 is involved in the interaction between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Patients with STAT3 mutations can have several inherited bone metabolism diseases. Furthermore, STAT3 plays a critical role in load-driven bone remodeling. Mechanical stimulation promotes osteoblast differentiation and bone formation through activating or enhancing STAT3 expression during bone remodeling process. This review summarizes the participation of STAT3 in maintaining bone homeostasis together with its possible mechanisms and discusses the connection between STAT3 and mechanical stimulation in bone remodeling, so as to provide a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of bone diseases.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) is activated in hepatocytes in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis. However, the action mechanism of NF-B remains to be established in the hepatic steatosis. In this study, the subunit of NF-B was found to promote the hepatic steatosis through regulation of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in hepatocytes. The activity was supported by the phenotypes of knockout (-KO) mice and knockout (-KO) mice. Hepatic steatosis was reduced in the -KO mice, but not in the -KO mice. The reduction was a result of inhibition of HDAC1 activity in the -KO cells. Knockdown of gene led to suppression of hepatocyte steatosis in HepG2 cells. A decrease in sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) protein was observed in the liver of -KO mice and in cell with knockdown. The decrease was associated with an increase in succinylation of SREBP1c protein. The study suggests that stabilizes HDAC1 to support the SREBP1c activity in hepatic steatosis in the pathophysiological condition. Interruption of this novel pathway in the -KO, but not the -KO mice, may account for the difference in hepatic phenotypes in the two lines of transgenic mice.

A new definition of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has recently been proposed. We aim to examine the associations of MAFLD, particularly its discordance from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with the progression of elevated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and albuminuria in a community-based study sample in Shanghai, China. After 4.3 years of follow-up, 778 participants developed elevated baPWV and 499 developed albuminuria. In comparison with the non-MAFLD group, the multivariable adjusted odds ratio (OR) of MAFLD group for new-onset elevated baPWV was 1.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.55) and 1.35 (95% CI 1.07-1.70) for albuminuria. Participants without NAFLD but diagnosed according to MAFLD definition were associated with higher risk of incident albuminuria (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.07-2.94). Patients with MAFLD with high value of hepamet fibrosis score or poor-controlled diabetes had higher risk of elevated baPWV or albuminuria. In conclusion, MAFLD was associated with new-onset elevated baPWV and albuminuria independently of body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Individuals without NAFLD but diagnosed as MAFLD had high risk of albuminuria, supporting that MAFLD criteria would be practical for the evaluation of long-term risk of subclinical atherosclerosis among fatty liver patients.
Humans ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Albuminuria ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/diagnosis* ; Vascular Stiffness ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology*