Objective To investigate the value of the novel lymphatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound(LCEUS)and conventional venous contrast-enhanced ultrasound(VCEUS)in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes in patients with thyroid cancer. Methods Patients with suspected thyroid cancer underwent conventional ultrasound,VCEUS,and LCEUS examinations of cervical lymph nodes before biopsy.The diagnostic abilities of conventional ultrasound,VCEUS,and LCEUS were compared with pathological results as the golden standard. Results Forty-four patients with 52 lymph nodes were included in the final data.Thirty-eight metastatic lymph nodes were confirmed by pathological results,and 14 were benign.The diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy were 97.37%,71.43%,and 90.38% for LCEUS,92.11%,35.71%,and 76.92% for VCEUS,and 94.74%,21.43%,and 75.00% for conventional ultrasound,respectively.The area under the curve of LCEUS analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic curve was greater than that of VCEUS(P=0.020)and conventional ultrasound(P<0.001). Conclusion LCEUS could significantly improve the differential diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in the patients with thyroid cancer,providing a basis for precise clinical treatment.
Humans ; Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnostic imaging* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Adult ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Contrast Media ; Neck ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Based on the octahedral modifiable structures and kinetic inertness, platinum (IV) complexes have become antitumor prodrug candidates to mitigate platinum (II) drug resistance and side effects. The nitrobenzoxadiazole derivative (NBDHEX) can inhibit the activity of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and be introduced to conjugate with platinum(II) complexes DN603 and DN604 to yield two platinum (IV) complexes DN603/DN604-NBD. In vitro assays demonstrated that DN603/DN604-NBD could significantly inhibit the proliferation of cisplatin-sensitive A549 and resistant A549/cDDP cancer cells. The uptake of DN603/DN604-NBD in A549/cDDP cells was much higher than that of cisplatin, causing a higher rate of cell apoptosis and a greater ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, the activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of DNA repair enzyme (PARP), inducing the mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis pathway. DN603/DN604-NBD could induce higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, significantly enhance phosphorylation of histone H2AX on Ser-139 (γ-H2AX) fluorescence intensity and cause a greater degree of DNA double-stranded damage. Studies have shown that GSTs kinase GSTP1 was highly expressed in cisplatin-resistant cancer cells. Moreover, DN603/DN604-NBD targeted GSTP1 to suppress its expression level. By using the ROS scavenger NAC and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 in advance, it was found that DN603/DN604-NBD could significantly increase the number of living cells and decrease the phosphorylation levels of JNK and c-Jun. The results indicated that DN603/DN604-NBD could produce higher levels of ROS to activate JNK-mediated signaling pathway, induce apoptosis in tumor cells to overcome cisplatin resistance. All the animal experiments were approved by Animal Ethics Committee of Southeast University (grant No. 20210303025). In vivo assays confirmed that DN603/DN604-NBD could inhibit the growth of A549 xenograft tumors with nearly no toxicity and fewer side effects. Taken together, DN603/DN604-NBD are investigated as two potential novel platinum (IV) prodrug candidates for anticancer therapy.

This study focuses on the microenvironment acidification caused by metabolic abnormalities and ion balance disturbances during cardiac ischemia, which can significantly trigger drug resistance and thus limit the therapeutic effect of coronary heart disease. To address this issue, we delve into the potential role of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in enhancing drug efficacy through pH regulation. First, we evaluated the potential of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide, in combination with aspirin, in alleviating myocardial hypoxic injury in a cellular model. Through high-throughput screening techniques, we systematically analyzed the synergistic effect of this drug combination and determined the optimal ratio. Next, we modified the structure of aspirin using acetazolamide as the structural basis, aiming to create novel derivatives with stronger myocardial protective activity. Using in vitro and in vivo models of myocardial hypoxic injury, we evaluated the biological activity and therapeutic efficacy of these derived compounds in detail. Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Southeast University (Ethics No. 20240109001). The results showed that the structurally modified aspirin derivatives exhibited significant synergistic effects in alleviating myocardial hypoxic injury. This study reveals the mechanism of action of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in the treatment of coronary heart disease and provides experimental and theoretical evidence for the development of novel coronary heart disease treatment drugs, which has important guiding significance for drug design and coronary heart disease treatment strategies.

Objective:To document any effect of combining respiratory-muscle resistance training with feedback respiratory electrical stimulation in rehabilitating the diaphragm function and lung function of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty hemiplegic stroke survivors were randomly assigned to an observation group or a control group, each of 30. Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation, including respiratory-muscle resistance training. The observation group additionally received feedback respiratory electrical stimulation twice a day, six days a week for 3 weeks. Before and after the treatment, ultrasound was used to measure the end-inspiratory and end-expiratory thickness of the diaphragm. Diaphragm movement during quiet breathing and deep breathing was also observed, and the diaphragm thickening fraction was calculated. The incidence of diaphragm dysfunction on the affected and healthy sides of the two groups before and after the treatment was also analyzed and compared.Results:Diaphragm dysfunction on either side had decreased significantly more in the observation group than in the control group after the treatment. The observation group also showed significantly greater average improvement in the thickening functions and in diaphragm movement on both the affected and healthy sides during quiet breathing and deep breathing. All of the pulmonary function indicators improved significantly in both groups after the treatment, but those of the observation group were, on average, significantly better than the control group′s averages.Conclusions:Combining 3 weeks of respiratory muscle resistance training with electrical stimulation feedback can effectively increase the bilateral thickness of the diaphragm and diaphragm movement in deep breathing of hemiplegic stroke survivors. That reduces the incidence of diaphragm dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the differentially phosphorylated proteins in DENV-2-infected human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and explore the possible pathogenic mechanism of DENV-2 infection. METHODS: The total proteins were extracted from DENV-2-infected HUVECs and blank control HUVEC using SDT lysis method. The phosphorylated proteins were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry (TMT). The identified differentially phosphorylated proteins were analyzed by bioinformatics analyses such as subcellular localization analysis, GO enrichment analysis, KEGG pathway analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of phosphorylated Jun, map2k2 and AKT1 proteins in DENV-2-infected HUVECs. RESULTS: A total of 2918 modified peptides on 1385 different proteins were detected, and among them 1346 were significantly upregulated (FC > 1.2, P < 0.05) and 1572 were significantly downregulated (FC < 0.83, P < 0.05). A total of 49 phosphorylated conserved motifs were obtained by amino acid conservative motif analysis. The most abundant differentially phosphorylated peptides in protein domain analysis included RNA recognition motif, protein kinase domain and PH domain. Subcellular localization analysis showed that the differentially modified peptides were mainly localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differential peptides were mainly enriched in the regulation of stimulation response, biosynthesis of small molecules containing nuclear bases, and migration of phagosomes and leukocytes across the endothelium. PPI and KEGG joint analysis showed that the up-regulated and down-regulated differentially phosphorylated proteins were enriched in 15 pathways. In DENV-2-infected HUVECs, Western blotting detected differential expressions of phosphorylated proteins related with the autophagy pathway, namely JUN, MAP2K2 and AKT1, and among them p-JUN was significantly down-regulated and p-AKT1 and p-MAP2K2 were significantly upregulated (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION DENV-2 infected HUVECs show numerous differentially expressed proteins. The downregulation of p-JUN and upregulation of p-MAP2K2 and p-AKT1 suggest their potential roles in regulating autophagy, which is probably involved in the mechanism of DENV-2 infection.
Humans ; Autophagy ; Cell Death ; Cell Nucleus ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/virology* ; Dengue ; Proteome

Objective To investigate the cardiac structural and functional characteristics in the patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),and predict the factors influencing the characteristics. Methods A total of 783 HFpEF patients diagnosed in the Department of Geriatric Cardiology,the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from April 2009 to December 2020 were enrolled in this study.Echocardiography and tissue Doppler technique were employed to evaluate cardiac structure and function.According to the occurrence of T2DM,the patients were assigned into a HFpEF+T2DM group (n=332) and a HFpEF group (n=451).Propensity score matching (PSM)(in a 1∶1 ratio) was adopted to minimize confounding effect.According to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER),the HFpEF+T2DM group was further divided into three subgroups with UAER<20 μg/min,of 20-200 μg/min,and>200 μg/min,respectively.The comorbidities,symptoms and signs,and cardiac structure and function were compared among the groups to clarify the features of diabetes related HFpEF.Multivariate linear regression was conducted to probe the relationship of systolic blood pressure,blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin,and UARE with cardiac structural and functional impairment. Results The HFpEF+T2DM group had higher prevalence of hypertension (P=0.001) and coronary heart disease (P=0.036),younger age (P=0.020),and larger body mass index (P=0.005) than the HFpEF group,with the median diabetic course of 10 (3,17) years.After PSM,the prevalence of hypertension and coronary heart disease,body mass index,and age had no significant differences between the two groups(all P>0.05).In addition,the HFpEF+T2DM group had higher interventricular septal thickness (P=0.015),left ventricular posterior wall thickness (P=0.040),and left ventricular mass (P=0.012) and lower early diastole velocity of mitral annular septum (P=0.030) and lateral wall (P=0.011) than the HFpEF group.Compared with the HFpEF group,the HFpEF+T2DM group showed increased ratio of early diastolic mitral filling velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e') (P=0.036).Glycosylated hemoglobin was correlated with left ventricular mass (P=0.011),and the natural logarithm of UAER with interventricular septal thickness (P=0.004),left ventricular posterior wall thickness (P=0.006),left ventricular mass (P<0.001),and E/e' ratio (P=0.049). Conclusion The patients with both T2DM and HFpEF have thicker left ventricular wall,larger left ventricular mass,more advanced left ventricular remodeling,severer impaired left ventricular diastolic function,and higher left ventricular filling pressure than the HFpEF patients without T2DM.Elevated blood glucose and diabetic microvascular diseases might play a role in the development of the detrimental structural and functional changes of the heart.
Humans ; Aged ; Heart Failure/diagnosis* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Stroke Volume ; Glycated Hemoglobin ; Blood Glucose ; Propensity Score ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Hypertension

Objective:To observe any short-term effect of combining respiratory muscle training with feedback respiratory electrical stimulation on the pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors were randomly divided into an observation group ( n=30) and a control group ( n=30). Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation 6 days a week for 3 weeks, but the observation group also received respiratory muscle training with feedback electrical stimulation. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ pulmonary functioning and respiratory muscle strength were measured, and also their trunk control, skill in the activities of daily living and fatigue level. The trunk impairment scale (TIS), modified Barthel index (MBI) and fatigue severity scale (FSS) were used. The incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) was also compared between the two groups. Results:After the treatment, average forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, maximum voluntary ventilation, peak expiratory flow, maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, as well as the average TIS and MBI scores of both groups had improved significantly, and there was a significant decrease in the average FSS scores. After the intervention, all of the average measurements of the experimental group were significantly better than the control group′s averages except their MBI scores. There was no significant difference in the incidence of SAP.Conclusions:Three weeks of respiratory muscle training combined with electrical stimulation feedback can effectively improve the pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and inspiratory muscle endurance of stroke survivors, resulting in better coughing ability, trunk control and reduced fatigue.

Indigo Naturalis( IN) is mainly composed of 10% organic matter and 90% inorganic matter,with a poor wettability and strong hydrophobicity. Indigo,indirubin and effective ingredients are almost insoluble in water. And how it exerts its effect after oral administration still needs to be revealed. For this reason,this study put forward the hypothesis that " Indigo Naturalis forms a slightly soluble calcium carbonate carrier in a strong acid environment of gastric fluid,and organic substances are solubilized in the bile environment of intestinal fluid",and then verified the hypothesis. First,the dissolution apparatus was used to simulate the change process of IN in different digestive fluid,and the effects of low-dose and normal bile on the dissolution of inorganic substances and the release of organic substances were compared. After the surface morphology and element changes of IN in different digestive fluid were observed,it was found that bile is the key to promoting the dissolution of organic and inorganic substances in IN. Furthermore,the rat fever model induced by 2,4-dinitrophenol was used to study the antipyretic effect of IN in normal rats and bile duct ligation rats. It was found that the antipyretic effect of IN on normal rats was better than that of bile duct ligation rats. The above results indicated that after oral administration of IN,the calcium carbonate carrier was transformed into a slightly soluble state in acidic gastric fluid,and a small amount of organic matter was released. When IN entered the intestinal fluid mixed with bile,the carrier dissolved in a large amount,and indigo and indirubin were dissolved in a large amount,so as to absorb the blood and exert the effect. This study has a certain significance for guiding clinical application of IN. For patients with insufficient bile secretion( such as bile duct resection),oral administration with IN may not be effective and shall be paid attention.
Animals ; Bile ; Humans ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Indigo Carmine ; Indigofera ; Plant Extracts ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: Bufalin is an effective drug for the treatment of liver cancer. But its high toxicity, poor water-solubility, fast metabolism and short elimination half-life limit its use in tumor treatment. How to make the drug accumulate in the tumor and reduce side effects while maintaining its efficacy are urgent problems to be solved. The goal of this study is to solve these problems. METHODS: A copolymer with tunable poly-N-isopropylacrylamide and polylactic acid was designed and synthesized. The corresponding dual targeting immunomicelles (DTIs) loaded with bufalin (DTIs-BF) were synthesized by copolymer self-assembly in an aqueous solution. The size and structure of DTIs-BF were determined by ZetaSizer Nano-ZS and transmission electron microscopy. Then, its temperature sensitivity, serum stability, critical micelle concentration (CMC), entrapment efficiency (EE), drug release and non-cytotoxicity of blank block copolymer micelles (BCMs) were evaluated. Next, the effects of DTIs-BF on cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and tumor cell inhibition were evaluated. Finally, the accumulation of DTIs-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and the in vivo anti-tumor effect were observed using an interactive video information system. RESULTS: DTIs-BF had a small size, spherical shape, good temperature sensitivity, high serum stability, low CMC, high EE, and slow drug release. The blank BCMs had very low cytotoxicity. Compared with free bufalin, the in vitro cellular internalization and cytotoxicity of DTIs-BF against SMMC-7721 cells were significantly enhanced, and the effects were obviously better at 40 °C than 37 °C. In addition, the therapeutic effect on SMMC-7721 cells was further enhanced by the programmed cell death specifically caused by bufalin. When DTIs-FITC were injected intravenously in BALB/c nude mice bearing liver cancer, the accumulation of FITC was significantly increased in tumors. CONCLUSION DTIs-BF is a potentially effective nano-formulation and has broad prospects in the clinical treatment of liver cancer.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology* ; Bufanolides ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude