Objective:To explore the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in assessing the degree of transplant renal artery stenosis(TRAS)and evaluate its diagnostic efficacy of severe TRAS.Methods:From February 2013 to February 2022, clinical and follow-up data are retrospectively reviewed for 23 TRAS recipients.A definite diagnosis is made by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA, 2 cases)or digital subtraction angiography(DSA, 21 cases). They are assigned into two groups of mild-moderate stenosis(5 cases)and severe stenosis(18 cases)according to the diameter reduction rate of transplanted renal artery detected by DSA/MRA.Another 32 recipients of stable renal function are selected as controls.All contrast-enhanced ultrasonic images are quantitatively processed with SonoLiver.The following quantitative parameters are obtained, including rising time of interlobular artery(RTi), rising time of cortex(RTc), rising time of medulla(RTm), time to peak of interlobular artery(TTPi), time to peak of cortex(TTPc)and time to peak of medulla(TTPm). The differences of contrast-enhanced ultrasonic quantitative parameters are compared among three groups.And their diagnostic efficacies are calculated in the diagnosis of severe TRAS.Results:As compared with those in normal group, RTi, RTc, TTPi and TTPc are significantly longer in mild-moderate stenosis group(all P<0.05); Meanwhile, RTi, RTc, RTm, TTPi, TTPc and TTPm are significantly longer in severe stenosis group than those in normal group(all P<0.05); Comparing mild-moderate stenosis and severe stenosis groups, only RTm is significantly different between two groups( P<0.05). Among all the above parameters, RTc has the highest diagnostic efficacy in the diagnosis of severe TRAS(AUC=0.848)with a sensitivity of 72.22%, a specificity of 86.49% and an accuracy of 81.82%. Conclusions:The quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound offer aid in assessing the degree of TRAS.And RTc is the most valuable in the diagnosis of severe TRAS.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal carcinogenesis and progression are related to the gut microbiota and the tumor immune microenvironment. Our previous clinical trial demonstrated that berberine (BBR) hydrochloride might reduce the recurrence and canceration of colorectal adenoma (CRA). The present study aimed to further explore the mechanism of BBR in preventing colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We performed metagenomics sequencing on fecal specimens obtained from the BBR intervention trial, and the differential bacteria before and after medication were validated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We further performed ApcMin/+ animal intervention tests, RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The abundance of fecal Veillonella parvula ( V . parvula ) decreased significantly after BBR administration ( P = 0.0016) and increased through the development from CRA to CRC. Patients with CRC with a higher V. parvula abundance had worse tumor staging and a higher lymph node metastasis rate. The intestinal immune pathway of Immunoglobulin A production was activated, and the expression of TNFSF13B (Tumor necrosis factor superfamily 13b, encoding B lymphocyte stimulator [BLyS]), the representative gene of this pathway, and the genes encoding its receptors (interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta) were significantly upregulated. Animal experiments revealed that V. parvula promoted colorectal carcinogenesis and increased BLyS levels, while BBR reversed this effect. CONCLUSION: BBR might inhibit V. parvula and further weaken the immunomodulatory effect of B cells induced by V. parvula , thereby blocking the development of colorectal tumors. TRIAL REGISTRAION ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT02226185.
Animals ; Humans ; Berberine/therapeutic use* ; Carcinogenesis ; Veillonella ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Tumor Microenvironment