Objective This study aimed to investigate the temporal and spatial changes in the expression of perios-tin during periodontal inflammation in mice.Methods A periodontitis model was constructed using silk thread ligation.Mice were randomly divided into five groups in-cluding control group,4-day ligation group,7-day liga-tion group,14-day ligation group,and self-healing group(thread removal for 14 days after 14-day ligation).Mi-cro-CT and histological staining were performed to char-acterize the dynamic changes in the mouse periodontal tissue in each group.RNAscope and immunohistochemical staining were used to analyze the pattern of changes in peri-ostin at various stages of periodontitis.The cell experiment was divided into three groups:control group,lipopolysac-charide(LPS)stimulation group(treated with LPS for 12 h),and LPS stimulation removal group(treated with LPS for 3 h followed by incubation with medium for 9 h).Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression of periostin,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),and matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP2).Results Significant alveolar bone resorption was observed 7 days after ligation.With increasing duration of ligation,the damage to the mouse periodontal tissue was aggravated,which manifested as increased osteoclasts,widen-ing of the periodontal membrane space,and decreased alveolar bone height.Some degree of periodontal tissue repair was observed in the self-healing group.Periostin expression decreased at 4 and 7 days compared with the control group and increased at 14 days compared with 4 and 7 days.A significant recovery was found in the self-healing group.The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of periostin and TGF-β1 in the LPS stimulation group decreased compared with that in the control group but significantly recovered in the LPS removal group.Conclusion Periostin expression in the PDL of mice showed a downward and upward trend with inflammation progression.The significant recovery of periostin expression after removing inflammatory stimuli may be related to TGF-β1,which is crucial to maintain the in-tegrity of the PDL.

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a serious and common complication of stroke, which seriously affects the rehabilitation of stroke patients. To date, the pathogenesis of PSD is unclear and effective treatments remain unavailable. Here, we established a mouse model of PSD through photothrombosis-induced focal ischemia. By using a combination of brain imaging, transcriptome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis, we found that the hippocampus of PSD mice had a significantly lower metabolic level than other brain regions. RNA sequencing revealed a significant reduction of miR34b-3p, which was expressed in hippocampal neurons and inhibited the translation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). Furthermore, silencing eIF4E inactivated microglia, inhibited neuroinflammation, and abolished the depression-like behaviors in PSD mice. Together, our data demonstrated that insufficient miR34b-3p after stroke cannot inhibit eIF4E translation, which causes PSD by the activation of microglia in the hippocampus. Therefore, miR34b-3p and eIF4E may serve as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of PSD.
Animals ; Mice ; Depression ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Stroke/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the risk factors for myocardial injury after Nano-Knife surgery in patients with pancreatic cancer, and to establish a nomogram model for risk prediction. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 92 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent Nano-Knife surgery in The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2020 to November 2021, with serum cardiac troponin I > 0.03 ng/mL within 3 days after surgery as the diagnostic criteria for myocardial injury, the patients were divided into myocardial injury group with 51 patients and non-myocardial injury group with 41 patients. Related baseline data were collected for all patients, including age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, smoking history, alcohol abuse history, and preoperative comorbidities. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between groups, and the chi-square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to screen out the variables with statistical significance, and the factors screened out were used to establish a nomogram for predicting the risk of myocardial injury after Nano-Knife surgery in patients with pancreatic cancer. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the discriminatory ability and clinical utility of the model. Results Compared with the non-myocardial injury group, the myocardial injury group had a significantly longer ablation time ( χ 2 =7.410, P =0.006), a significantly greater number of probes ( χ 2 =6.130, P =0.047), and a significantly higher proportion of patients with preoperative hypertension ( χ 2 =12.124, P < 0.001) or chronic kidney disease ( χ 2 =12.829, P < 0.001). The univariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor diameter, ablation time, surgical procedure, number of probes, history of hypertension, and history of chronic kidney disease were associated with the development of myocardial injury (all P < 0.05), and the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor diameter (odds ratio [ OR ]= 3.94, 95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 1.09-14.18, P =0.036), ablation time ( OR =4.15, 95% CI : 1.30-13.27, P =0.016), surgical procedure ( OR =6.92, 95% CI : 1.92-25.07, P =0.003), and history of hypertension ( OR =4.07, 95%CI: 1.12-14.77, P =0.034) were independent risk factors for myocardial injury after Nano-Knife surgery in patients with pancreatic cancer. An AUC of 0.859 showed that the nomogram had good discriminatory ability and clinical utility. Conclusion There is a relatively high incidence rate of myocardial injury after Nano-Knife surgery in patients with pancreatic cancer. Preoperative hypertension, tumor diameter > 4 cm, and ablation time > 1 hour are independent risk factors for myocardial injury, and the surgical procedure of Nano-Knife surgery and bypass anastomosis can increase the risk of myocardial injury. The nomogram has a good effect in predicting the risk of myocardial injury.

Objective:To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in detecting minute renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) smaller than 15 mm (by ultrasonic measurement) and the strategy to improve its detection rate.Methods:Fifty-three pathologically confirmed MRCCs by surgery from November 2007 to October 2019 at Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled in this retrospectively study. All of them underwent both conventional ultrasound and CEUS examinations. The clinical and imaging data were collected and analyzed. Common features, such as tumor size, location, echogenicity, morphology, border, and blood flow signals were observed on conventional ultrasound. On CEUS, the presence of enhancement, wash in and wash out pattern, perfusion uniformity within the lesions were observed.Results:Post-operative pathology confirmed 48 clear cell carcinomas, 4 papillary carcinomas, and 1 chromophobe cell carcinoma. On conventional ultrasound, 12/53 lesions showed no protrusion out of the kidney, and 41/53 cases slightly protruded out of the kidney. There was considerable difficulty in the detection of ten lesions, which was achieved with the guidance of CT/MRI, due to their dorsal location of the kidney. On conventional ultrasound, solid, hyper-echoic, color flow signal with varying degrees were the main features of MRCC.The boundary could be well- or ill-defined, and cystic changes existed in part of cases. On CEUS, most MRCCs showed simultaneous enhancement in cortical phase, iso- to hyper-enhancement at peak, and rapid washout in parenchymal phase. The comparisons of imaging features demonstrated that the characteristics were significantly different between conventional ultrasound and CEUS with regard to boundaries, blood supply, and perfusion uniformity (χ 2=12.425, 20.247, 7.185; all P<0.01). Conclusions:CEUS can significantly improve the detection rate of MRCC, which is superior to conventional ultrasound.

Objective:To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in distinguishing of renal oncocytoma(RO) and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma(chRCC).Methods:The ultrasonic image features of 49 ROs and 72 chRCCs between October 2007 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, all lesions underwent ultrasonic examination (including 19 ROs and 70 chRCCs with CEUS imaging) and were pathologically approved in our institution. The statistically significant parameters from univariate analyses were then entered for further multivariable Logistic regression. The value of each ultrasonic imaging feature in differentiating RO and chRCC was evaluated.Results:According to the univariate analyses, all imaging features on conventional ultrasound were not statistically different between RO and chRCC (all P>0.05), while the characteristics of tumor wash-in/out pattern, enhancement degree and homogeneity at peak time and pseudocapsule around tumor were significantly different (all P<0.05). After multivariable analyses, tumor wash-in and wash-out pattern were excluded for tumor differentiation ( P>0.05), and the parameters of enhancement degree or homogeneity at peak time and pseudocapsule around tumor were still significantly different between tumor types (all P<0.05, odd ratio was 8.683, 6.667 and 18.774 respectively). The overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of these three parameters in diagnosing RO was 68.4%, 91.4% and 86.5%, respectively. Conclusions:CEUS can provide some useful information for the differentiation of RO and chRCC.

Objective To compare the efficiencies of handheld ultrasound ,automated breast volume scanner ( ABVS) and breast specific gamma imaging (BSGI) in the diagnosis of breast cancer . Methods A retrospective review was performed in 200 women ( 210 breast lesions) underwent handheld ultrasound , ABVS and BSGI before surgery . The results were verified with histological examination . Results There was no obvious difference among the three methods in the sensitivity for the diagnosis of breast cancer( P >0 .05) . There was no difference of specificity between handheld ultrasound and ABVS ,BSGI( P = 0 .393 , 0 .139) . Compared with BSGI ,ABVS was an imaging modality with highest specificity for the diagnosis of breast cancer( P = 0 .021) ,and there was no difference between handheld ultrasound and ABVS ,BSGI ( P =0 .07 ,0 .29) . The areas under the ROC curve of handheld ultrasound ,ABVS and BSGI were 0 .855 ,0 .894 and 0 .818 ,respectively . The difference was obvious between ABVS and BSGI ( P = 0 .02) . Conclusions The diagnostic efficacy of ABVS in diagnosis of breast malignant lesions is similar to that of handheld ultrasound . BSGI has certain clinical value in the diagnosis of breast cancer ,and it is an effective supplement for breast cancer ultrasound examination .

Objective To compare the ultrasound differences between gouty arthritis with chronic kidney disease( GCKD) and simple gouty arthritis( GA) ,and evaluate the correlation between the number of tophi and the degree of renal impairment . Methods Twenty-two patients with GCKD and 22 patients only with GA were examined by high frequency and color Doppler ultrasound . The differences between the tophus , intra-tendinous aggregate , double contour sign , hyperechoic spots in synovium , synovium hyperplasia ,effusion and erosion of the knee ,ankle and first metatarsophalangeal joint ( M TP 1 ) were examined . The correlation between the degree of renal impairment and the number of tophi was analyzed . Results The prevalence of tophi in GCKD group were significant serious compared with simple GA group ( Z = - 3 .915 ,P < 0 .001) . The articulations involved tophi in GCKD group were more than those in simple GA group( χ2 = 20 .283 , P < 0 .001) . And the tophi in GCKD group were more likely to involve multiple articulations while simple GA group frequently manifested none or single articulation involved( χ2 = 13 .165 , P = 0 .001 ) . The tophus in GCKD group was more frequently involved tendon than that in simple GA group ( χ2 = 6 .783 , P = 0 .009) ,but the number of aggregates in tendon showed no significant difference between the two groups ( Z = - 1 .499 , P = 0 .134) . The double contour sign was more frequent in GCKD group than that in simple GA group( χ2 = 7 .511 , P = 0 .006) ,there was no difference of hyperechoic spots in synovium ,synovium hyperplasia ,effusion and erosion between the two groups . The number of tophi was correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( eGFR) ,serum creatinine( SCr) and blood urea nitrogen ( BUN) ( rs = - 0 .595 ,0 .511 ,0 .583 ;all P < 0 .001) ,respectively .Conclusions GCKD is more likely to manifest multiple tophi ,multiple tophus-involved articulations ,intra-tendinous tophi and double contour sign .The number of tophi is correlated with the degree of renal impairment .

Initially,the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was considered to play an important role in regulating cardiovascular function and maintaining the balance of water and electrolyte.Based on this,several targeted drugs in the treatment of hypertension were developed.With the large-scale clinical apphcation of these drugs,RAS inhibitors are found to has a significant inhibitory effect on some of the tumor development,which reveals the RAS function in cell proliferation,differentiation,angiogenesis and tumor occurrence.In this paper,the important physiological ftmction of RAS in tumor occurrence and development were reviewed.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of automated breast volume scanner(ABVS) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer and to assess the value of these modalities as well as the joint use of the two.Methods In this study,a total of 50 breast lesions in 37 patients proved by surgery and pathology were included.Before operation,all patients were underwent both ABVS and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-MRI) examinations,and classified into groups according to BI-RADS classification.Then the effectiveness of the two examinations were contrasted,the image features on the two techniques were analyzed,and their differential diagnosis in benign and malignant breast lesions were compared.Results The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value(NPV) of ABVS and MRI for the diagnosis of breast cancer were 91.67％ and 95.83％,88.46％ and 80.77％,90.00％ and 88.00％,88.00％ and 82.14％,92.00％ and 95.45％,respectively,and there was no statistical difference between ABVS and MRI(P ＞0.05);The sensitivity and specificity of the combination of the two were 99.65％ and 97.78％,respectively.The difference of the ABVS coronal features and MRI dynamic enhancement curve types between malignant breast lesions and the benign were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Both ABVS and MRI are effective to diagnose breast cancer well,while the combination of the two can improve the diagnosis more accurately.

Objective To explore the image performance of mucinous breast carcinoma( MBC) on automated breast volume scanner ( ABVS ) and its pathologic features ,for the purpose of improving the recognition of this disease on ABVS ,as well as diagnostic ability . Methods Retrospectively analyzed the sonogram and pathological data of 17 patients with 18 MBC lesions that included 9 PMBC ( pure mucinous breast carcinoma) and 9 MMBC( mixed mucinous breast carcinoma) ,all patients were examined by ABVS before operation and confirmed by pathology . Results Luminal A was the main molecular subtype of MBC ,as well as rarely lymph node metastases;The image of the MBC on ABVS mainly showed a round like or irregular mass ,isoechoic or slightly lower with posterior acoustic enhancement ,and clearly edge with microlobulated or angular ;While on the coronal plane ,it might presented unsmoothed contour ,retraction phenomenon and expansive growth pattern like a spherical nodular;The image characteristics of the PMBC and MMBC lesions on ABVS had no statistical difference( P > 0 .05) ,but the PMBC often performed isoechoic mass with clearly marge ,in contrast , the MMBC usually performed hypoechoic mass with indistinct and angular edge ,and the malignant image features on the coronal plane . Conclusions The three vertical sections of ABVS are beneficial to observe the morphological features of MBC completely ,which can help to identify it from the benign lesions ,reduce misdiagnosis ,and provide some guidance for MBC surgical treatment in the early stage .