Objective To explore the predictive value of artificial intelligence (AI)-based lung nodule CT quantitative analysis for the invasion degree of lung adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions. Methods According to the invasion degree of lung adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions, patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed lung adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions from January to June 2023 in Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University were retrospectively collected and divided into a non-invasive group and an invasive group, including atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, adenocarcinoma in situ, and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma patients in the non-invasive group, and invasive adenocarcinoma patients in the invasive group. All enrolled patients underwent chest CT before surgery, and then the lung nodules were quantitatively analyzed using an AI-based computer-aided diagnosis system to compare the related quantitative parameters of lung nodules that have been surgically removed and pathologically confirmed as lung adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions between the two groups. The relationship between various CT quantitative features and the invasion degree of lung adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions was analyzed. Results A total of 149 patients (149 lesions) were included, including 42 males and 107 females, aged 29-81 (56.35±10.75) years. There were 72 patients in the non-invasive group and 77 patients in the invasive group. Statistical differences were observed between the two groups in long diameter, short diameter, volume, surface area, mass, maximum cross-sectional area, 3D long diameter, maximum CT value, minimum CT value, average CT value, entropy, kurtosis, skewness, malignancy probability and other indicators (P<0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that long diameter [OR=1.687, 95%CI (1.364, 2.085), P<0.001], average CT value [OR=1.006, 95%CI (1.002, 1.009), P=0.002], and malignancy probability [OR=1.034, 95%CI (1.005, 1.063), P=0.020] were independent risk factors for the invasion degree of lung adenocarcinoma. The predictive model combining the above parameters demonstrated optimal performance, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.951, sensitivity of 0.818, and specificity of 0.972. Using a Nomogram to quantify the three independent risk factors, the cross-validation was performed to evaluate the stability of the model, and the average C-index of cross-validation was 0.950, with each fold C-index >0.75, indicating that the prediction performance of the model was stable, and the calibration curve and decision curve indicated good predictive performance. Conclusion The visualization prediction model constructed by AI-based quantitative analysis of lung nodules in CT demonstrates significant discriminative effectiveness in the assessment of invasiveness in lung adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions. This visualization prediction model can provide a quantitative decision-making basis for the preoperative identification of the degree of invasiveness in lung adenocarcinoma spectrum lesions.

Objective:To explore the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and the severity and prognosis of obese patients with acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods:The clinical data of 224 obese patients with AP admitted to The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Chongqing Dongnan Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were collected, retrospectively. According to the severity of AP, they were divided into mild AP group (MAP group), moderately severe AP group (MSAP group), and severe AP group (SAP group). According to the in-hospital treatment outcomes of the patients, they were divided into the survival group and death group (death within 7-30 days after admission). The basic information of AP patients, the severity score of AP and laboratory indicators were collected. The visceral adiposity index (VAI) was calculated through the values of waist circumference, body mass index, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; and the VAT area was measured by CT scan. The Spearman rank correlation analysis method was used to evaluate the correlation between the VAT area and the AP severity index as well as other indicators. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of in-hospital mortality in obese patients with AP. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn, and the area under curve (AUC), cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were calculated to evaluate the predictive value of VAT area for SAP, as well as the predictive value of VAT area for in-hospital mortality in obese AP patients.Results:The VAI of MAP group, MSAP group and SAP group were 1.63(1.21, 2.74), 2.30(1.28, 3.36) and 3.01(2.17, 3.86), respectively, and the VAT area were 138.90(121.30, 155.10)cm 2, 149.90(135.10, 166.70)cm 2 and 192.30(168.80, 223.80)cm 2, respectively. There were significant differences in VAI and VAT area among the three groups (all P values <0.05). Compared with MAP group, the area of VAI and VAT area in MSAP group and SAP group were significantly increased ( P<0.05), and the area of VAT in SAP group was further increased than that in MSAP group, the differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). Spearman analysis showed that the VAT area was significantly positively correlated with acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ scoring system (APACHEⅡ) score, modified CT severity index (MCTSI), and Balthazar CT grading score (all P values <0.05). It was also significantly positively correlated with body mass index, serum glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and VAI (all P values <0.05). ROC analysis showed that the AUC value of VAI in identifying SAP was 0.641 (95% CI 0.562-0.720), the corresponding cut-off value was 2.75, the sensitivity was 57.6%, and the specificity was 69.0%; The AUC value of VAT area in identifying SAP was 0.869 (95% CI 0.813-0.924), the corresponding cut-off value was 165.85 cm 2, the sensitivity was 78.8%, and the specificity was 84.8%, and the predictive value of VAT area was significantly better than that of VAI ( P<0.001). The APACHEⅡ, MCTSI, Balthazar CT grading score, VAI and VAT area in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that VAT area was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in obese AP patients ( P<0.05), with an AUC value of 0.831 (95% CI 0.756-0.907), a cutoff value of 173.70 cm 2, a sensitivity of 77.8%, and a specificity of 85.5%. Conclusions:The VAT area is significantly associated with the aggravation of AP and the increased risk of in-hospital mortality in obese patients, and is expected to serve as a reliable indicator for predicting the severity and prognosis of obese patients with AP.

Objective:To explore the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and the severity and prognosis of obese patients with acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods:The clinical data of 224 obese patients with AP admitted to The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Chongqing Dongnan Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023 were collected, retrospectively. According to the severity of AP, they were divided into mild AP group (MAP group), moderately severe AP group (MSAP group), and severe AP group (SAP group). According to the in-hospital treatment outcomes of the patients, they were divided into the survival group and death group (death within 7-30 days after admission). The basic information of AP patients, the severity score of AP and laboratory indicators were collected. The visceral adiposity index (VAI) was calculated through the values of waist circumference, body mass index, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; and the VAT area was measured by CT scan. The Spearman rank correlation analysis method was used to evaluate the correlation between the VAT area and the AP severity index as well as other indicators. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of in-hospital mortality in obese patients with AP. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn, and the area under curve (AUC), cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were calculated to evaluate the predictive value of VAT area for SAP, as well as the predictive value of VAT area for in-hospital mortality in obese AP patients.Results:The VAI of MAP group, MSAP group and SAP group were 1.63(1.21, 2.74), 2.30(1.28, 3.36) and 3.01(2.17, 3.86), respectively, and the VAT area were 138.90(121.30, 155.10)cm 2, 149.90(135.10, 166.70)cm 2 and 192.30(168.80, 223.80)cm 2, respectively. There were significant differences in VAI and VAT area among the three groups (all P values <0.05). Compared with MAP group, the area of VAI and VAT area in MSAP group and SAP group were significantly increased ( P<0.05), and the area of VAT in SAP group was further increased than that in MSAP group, the differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). Spearman analysis showed that the VAT area was significantly positively correlated with acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ scoring system (APACHEⅡ) score, modified CT severity index (MCTSI), and Balthazar CT grading score (all P values <0.05). It was also significantly positively correlated with body mass index, serum glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and VAI (all P values <0.05). ROC analysis showed that the AUC value of VAI in identifying SAP was 0.641 (95% CI 0.562-0.720), the corresponding cut-off value was 2.75, the sensitivity was 57.6%, and the specificity was 69.0%; The AUC value of VAT area in identifying SAP was 0.869 (95% CI 0.813-0.924), the corresponding cut-off value was 165.85 cm 2, the sensitivity was 78.8%, and the specificity was 84.8%, and the predictive value of VAT area was significantly better than that of VAI ( P<0.001). The APACHEⅡ, MCTSI, Balthazar CT grading score, VAI and VAT area in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P values <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that VAT area was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in obese AP patients ( P<0.05), with an AUC value of 0.831 (95% CI 0.756-0.907), a cutoff value of 173.70 cm 2, a sensitivity of 77.8%, and a specificity of 85.5%. Conclusions:The VAT area is significantly associated with the aggravation of AP and the increased risk of in-hospital mortality in obese patients, and is expected to serve as a reliable indicator for predicting the severity and prognosis of obese patients with AP.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the expression of circulating exosome miR-485-3p and STYX with the risk of premature coronary heart disease.Methods A total of 50 inpatients with early onset coronary heart disease diagnosed by coronary angiography or CT angiography (CTA) in Af-filiated Puyang Municipal People's Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College from August to December 2023 were selected as the study group and 50 patients with excluded coronary artery disease by examination during the same period were included in the control group.The general clinical data of the two groups were collected,the plasma exosome miR-485-3p and STYX levels were detected.The degree of coronary arterial lesions in the pa-tients of the study group was evaluated by the Gensini score.The Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between plasma exosome miR-485-3p and STYX with LDL and Gensini score.The re-ceiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of plasma exosome miR-485-3p and STYX in the diagnosis of premature coronary heart disease.The multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent risk factors for premature coronary heart disease.Results Compared with the control group,the family history of coronary heart disease,smoking history,LDL and plasma exo-some miR-485-3p level in the study group were increased,the plasma STYX level was decreased and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);the Spearman correlation analysis showed that miR-485-3p was positively correlated with LDL (r=0.546) and Gensini score (r=0.485),and negatively correlated with STYX (r=-0.576).STYX was negatively correlated with LDL (r=-0.389) and Gensini score (r=-0.531).The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve of miR-485-3p,STYX and their combination in the diagnosis of premature coronary heart disease was 0.821 (95％CI:0.736-0.906),0.850 (95％CI:0.772-0.927) and 0.899 (95％CI:0.837-0.960) respectively.Conclusion The expression of circulating exosome miR-485-3p in premature coronary heart disease is up-regulated and the expression of STYX is down-regulated,the both are closely related to the degree of coronary artery lesion,which could be used as the po-tential biomarkers for the diagnosis of premature coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND:Inflammation is one of the important factors that induce cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.Studies have shown that electroacupuncture can effectively reduce inflammation after ischemic stroke and improve the symptoms of neurological deficits,but the mechanism is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS:Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group and electroacupuncture group,with 16 rats in each group.The rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was prepared by middle cerebral artery occlusion.At 24 hours after modeling,the rats in the electroacupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture,once a day,20 minutes each time,for a total of 5 days.The sham operation group and the model group did not do any intervention.After 5 days of intervention,Longa method was used to evaluate the degree of neurological injury in rats.Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to measure the volume of cerebral infarction and the pathological changes of brain tissue in rats.Serum interleukin-6,interleukin-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α were detected by ELISA.Expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB in the cerebral cortex at mRNA and protein levels were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham operation group,the neurological function scores,serum interleukin-6,interleukin-18,and tumor necrosis factor-α levels,Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly higher in the model group(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,electroacupuncture significantly reduced the neurological function scores,serum interleukin-6,interleukin-18,and tumor necrosis factor-α levels,Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB mRNA and protein expression levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the sham operation group,the volume of cerebral infarction in the model group increased significantly(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the volume of cerebral infarction in the electroacupuncture group decreased(P＜0.05).In the model group,the arrangement of neurons was disordered,some nerve cells disappeared,nuclei presented with pyknosis and incomplete structure.After electroacupuncture intervention,the degree of neuronal degeneration and neuronal loss in the cerebral cortex of rats were reduced compared with those in the model group.To conclude,electroacupuncture can significantly improve the neurobehavior of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,reduce brain tissue injury,and effectively reduce the level of serum inflammatory factors.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway.

Evolution and natural selection have endowed animal venoms, including scorpion venoms, with a wide range of pharmacological properties. Consequently, scorpions, their venoms, and/or their body parts have been used since time immemorial in traditional medicines, especially in Africa and Asia. With respect to their pharmacological potential, bioactive peptides from scorpion venoms have become an important source of scientific research. With the rapid increase in the characterization of various components from scorpion venoms, a large number of peptides are identified with an aim of combating a myriad of emerging global health problems. Moreover, some scorpion venom-derived peptides have been established as potential scaffolds helpful for drug development. In this review, we summarize the promising scorpion venoms-derived peptides as drug candidates. Accordingly, we highlight the data and knowledge needed for continuous characterization and development of additional natural peptides from scorpion venoms, as potential drugs that can treat related diseases.
Animals ; Scorpion Venoms/pharmacology* ; Peptides/pharmacology* ; Scorpions ; Drug Development ; Medicine, Traditional

Objective To investigate the changes of macrophage polarization during acute rejection (AR) after intestinal transplantation. Methods Six Brown Norway (BN) rats and 24 Lewis rats were divided into the sham operation group (6 Lewis rats), syngeneic transplantation group (Lewis→Lewis, 6 donors and 6 recipients) and allogeneic transplantation group (BN→Lewis, 6 donors and 6 recipients). At postoperative 7 d, the intestinal graft tissues in all groups were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Pathological manifestations and cell apoptosis were observed. The expression levels of serum cytokines related to M1 and M2 macrophage polarization were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Surface markers of M1 and M2 macrophages of intestinal graft tissues in each group were co-localized and counted by immunofluorescence staining. Results HE staining and TUNEL assay showed that the intestinal epithelial morphology and structure were normal and no evident apoptotic bodies were found in the sham operation and syngeneic transplantation groups. At 7 d after transplantation, the epithelial villi structure of intestinal graft tissues was severely damaged, the number of crypts was decreased, the number of apoptotic bodies was increased, and inflammatory cells infiltrated into the whole intestinal wall, manifested with moderate to severe AR in the allogeneic transplantation group. ELISA revealed that the expression levels of serum cytokines related to M1 macrophage polarization, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-12, of the recipient rats in the allogeneic transplantation group were higher than those in the sham operation and syngeneic transplantation groups. The expression levels of serum cytokines related to M2 macrophage polarization, such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, in the syngeneic transplantation group were higher compared with those in the sham operation and allogeneic transplantation group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of M1 macrophages in the allogeneic transplantation group was higher than those in the sham operation and syngeneic transplantation groups, and the number of M2 macrophages in the syngeneic transplantation group was higher than those in the sham operation and allogeneic transplantation groups, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions Among the allografts with AR after intestinal transplantation, a large number of macrophages, mainly M1 macrophages secreting a large number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, infiltrate into the whole intestinal wall. Regulating the direction of macrophage polarization is a potential treatment for AR after intestinal transplantation.

Anesthesia, General/adverse effects* ; Hypertension/etiology* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of sonication, repeated freeze-thaw cycles, calcium salt solution and their combination on the content of related growth factors (GFs) released by platelet rich plasma (PRP). METHODS: Twenty PRPs from healthy blood donors were divided into 9 groups, including sonication group, freeze-thaw group, calcium gluconate group, calcium chloride group, sonication + calcium gluconate group, sonication + calcium chloride group, freeze-thaw + calcium gluconate group, freeze-thaw + calcium chloride group, and sonication + freeze-thaw group. After PRP activated by above 9 methods, the content of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The platelet concentration of the samples was (966.7±202.6)×10⁹/L. The content of TGF-β1 in sonication + freeze-thaw group was the highest, while the lowest was in freeze-thaw group. The content of VEGF in freeze-thaw + calcium chloride group was the highest, while the lowest was in calcium gluconate group. The content of PDGF-BB in sonication + freeze-thaw group was the highest, while the lowest was in calcium gluconate group. There was no significant differences in the three GFs between calcium gluconate group and calcium chloride group. CONCLUSION Among the 9 activated methods of PRP, there is no difference between two calcium salt solutions. And the combination of repeated freeze-thaw cycles and sonication may be the best treatment method to promote PRP to release GFs, while calcium gluconate is the weakest way.
Humans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Calcium Gluconate ; Calcium ; Calcium Chloride ; Becaplermin ; Platelet-Rich Plasma

Key requirements of successful animal behavior research in the laboratory are robustness, objectivity, and high throughput, which apply to both the recording and analysis of behavior. Many automatic methods of monitoring animal behavior meet these requirements. However, they usually depend on high-performing hardware and sophisticated software, which may be expensive. Here, we describe an automatic infrared behavior-monitor (AIBM) system based on an infrared touchscreen frame. Using this, animal positions can be recorded and used for further behavioral analysis by any PC supporting touch events. This system detects animal behavior in real time and gives closed-loop feedback using relatively low computing resources and simple algorithms. The AIBM system automatically records and analyzes multiple types of animal behavior in a highly efficient, unbiased, and low-cost manner.