BACKGROUND: The potential impact of pre-existing coronary artery stenosis (CAS) on right ventricular (RV) function during acute pulmonary embolism (PE) episodes remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between pre-existing CAS and RV dysfunction in patients with acute PE. METHODS: In this multicenter, case-control study, 89 cases and 176 controls matched for age were enrolled at three study centers (Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Fuwai Hospital, and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University) from January 2016 to December 2020. The cases were patients with acute PE with CAS, and the controls were patients with acute PE without CAS. Coronary artery assessment was performed using coronary computed tomographic angiography. CAS was defined as ≥50% stenosis of the lumen diameter in any coronary vessel >2.0 mm in diameter. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between CAS and RV dysfunction. RESULTS: The percentages of RV dysfunction (19.1% [17/89] vs. 44.6% [78/176], P <0.001) and elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) (19.3% [17/89] vs. 39.5% [68/176], P = 0.001) were significantly lower in the case group than those in the control group. In the multivariable logistic regression model, CAS was independently and negatively associated with RV dysfunction (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.367; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.185-0.728; P = 0.004), and elevated sPAP (OR: 0.490; 95% CI: 0.252-0.980; P = 0.035), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Pre-existing CAS was significantly and negatively associated with RV dysfunction and elevated sPAP in patients with acute PE. This finding provides new insights into RV dysfunction in patients with acute PE with pre-existing CAS.
Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism/complications* ; Case-Control Studies ; Male ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/physiopathology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Stenosis/complications* ; Logistic Models ; Adult

To explore the effect and mechanism of sodium propionate and mixed short-chain fatty acids on colitis induced by Citrobacter rodentium (C.r.) in mice. Mice were induced by oral gavage of C.r. The C.r. growth monitoring, histopathological analysis, qPCR analysis, intestinal permeability test and flow cytometry was used to study the effects of sodium propionate and mixed short-chain fatty acids on intestinal infection. The results showed that sodium propionate could inhibit the growth of C.r. more effectively than mixed short-chain fatty acids. Results of animal experiments showed that sodium propionate significantly reduced the weight loss and intestinal bacterial output in mice. Meanwhile, compared with mixed short chain fatty acids, sodium propionate effectively alleviated the pathological manifestations of colonic inflammatory infiltration, destruction of epithelial cell structure and decrease of goblet cell caused by C.r. infection, also increased the levels of antimicrobial peptides like interleukin-17 (IL-17) and regenerated islet derived protein 3γ (Reg3γ). In addition, sodium propionate decreased intestinal permeability better than mixed short-chain fatty acids, and sodium propionate significantly induced T helper cells 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) differentiation. The results showed that sodium propionate significantly alleviated colitis induced by C.r. infection compared with mixed short-chain fatty acids, which may be related to its inhibition of C.r. growth and enhancement of intestinal anti-infective function. The expected results can provide a safer and effective treatment strategy and scientific basis for colitis.

68Ga-DOTATATE/18F-FDG two-day low-dose total-body PET/CT imaging is increasingly employed to facilitate the diagnosis,prognosis,and heterogeneity assessment of neuroendocrine neoplasms.We present a consensus on operational guideline for a two-day combined imaging from experts in low-dose/ultra-low-dose total-body PET/CT from several domestic medical institutions.

Background::The potential impact of pre-existing coronary artery stenosis (CAS) on acute pulmonary embolism (PE) episodes remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between pre-existing CAS and the elevation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels in patients with PE.Methods::In this multicenter, prospective case-control study, 88 cases and 163 controls matched for age, sex, and study center were enrolled. Cases were patients with PE with elevated hs-cTnI. Controls were patients with PE with normal hs-cTnI. Coronary artery assessment utilized coronary computed tomographic angiography or invasive coronary angiography. CAS was defined as ≥50% stenosis of the lumen diameter in any coronary vessel >2.0 mm in diameter. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between CAS and hs-cTnI elevation.Results::The percentage of CAS was higher in the case group compared to the control group (44.3% [39/88] vs. 30.1% [49/163]; P = 0.024). In multivariable conditional logistic regression model 1, CAS (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.680; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.243–5.779), heart rate >75 beats/min (OR, 2.306; 95% CI, 1.056–5.036) and N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) >420 pg/mL (OR, 12.169; 95% CI, 4.792–30.900) were independently associated with elevated hs-cTnI. In model 2, right CAS (OR, 3.615; 95% CI, 1.467–8.909) and NT-proBNP >420 pg/mL (OR, 13.890; 95% CI, 5.288–36.484) were independently associated with elevated hs-cTnI. Conclusions::CAS was independently associated with myocardial injury in patients with PE. Vigilance towards CAS is warranted in patients with PE with elevated cardiac troponin levels.

177Lu-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)radio-ligand therapy has been approved abroad for advanced prostate cancer and has been in several clinical trials in China.Based on domestic clinical practice and experimental data and referred to international experience and viewpoints,the expert group forms a consensus on the clinical application of 177Lu-PSMA radio-ligand therapy in prostate cancer to guide clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of left ventricular shape index (SI) and eccentricity index (EI) in evaluating left ventricular remodeling.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 324 patients (264 males, 60 females, age (62.5±11.8) years) diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI) and 113 healthy controls (HC; 47 males, 66 females, age (57.8±10.7) years) who received gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) in First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to September 2020. SI (end-diastolic SI (EDSI), end-systolic SI (ESSI)), EI and left ventricular function parameters (end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), summed motion score (SMS), summed thickening score (STS), peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR)) were obtained by quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) software. Propensity score (PS) inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance the intergroup covariates. The differences and correlations of EDSI, ESSI, EI and left ventricular function parameters between patients in MI group and HC group were analyzed. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the values of EDV, EDSI, ESSI and EI alone and in combination in the assessment of left ventricular systolic function impairment. Data were analyzed by independent-sample t test, Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analyses, and Delong test. Results:After IPTW, EDSI and ESSI in MI group ( n=319) were higher than those in HC group ( n=133; EDSI: 0.66±0.09 vs 0.60±0.06; ESSI: 0.59±0.11 vs 0.47±0.07; t values: 8.05, 14.67, both P<0.001), and EI was lower than that in HC group (0.81±0.06 vs 0.85±0.03; t=-8.93, P<0.001). In both groups, there were significant correlations between EDSI and ESSI ( r values: 0.928, 0.873), between EDSI, ESSI and EI ( r values: from -0.831 to -0.641), between EDSI, ESSI and LVEF ( r values: from -0.627 to -0.201), between ESSI and EDV, ESV and SMS ( rs values: 0.336-0.584), between ESSI and -PER, PFR ( rs values: from -0.406 to -0.402, r values: from -0.352 to -0.325) (all P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that EDV (AUC: 0.895) and ESSI (AUC: 0.839) had the highest efficacy in evaluating left ventricular systolic function impairment in MI group and HC group, respectively. EDV-EDSI-ESSI-(1-EI) had higher efficacy in the assessment of impaired left ventricular systolic function in MI group (AUC: 0.956), which was higher than that of EDV or EDV-EDSI or EDV-ESSI or EDV-(1-EI) ( z values: from -2.64 to -2.18, P values: 0.008-0.029); EDV-EDSI-ESSI-(1-EI) also had high efficacy in HC group (AUC: 0.911), which was higher than that of EDV or EDV-EDSI or EDV-(1-EI) ( z values: from -2.60 to -2.43, P values: 0.009-0.015). Conclusions:In MI patients, the increase of SI and the decrease of EI indicate the increase of left ventricular sphericity and the aggravation of left ventricular remodeling. SI and EI have certain clinical application values in evaluating left ventricular morphology, predicting left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular systolic function impairment.

Objective:To construct 68Ga-1, 4, 7-trizacyclononane-1, 4, 7-triacetic acid (NOTA)-CD44 as a novel atherosclerosis tracer targeting hyaluronic acid (HA), and evaluate its biological property and molecular imaging features. Methods:Low molecular weight (LMW) recombinant human CD44 protein was selected, and the C-terminal of the protein was modified by sulfonation and coupled to the bifunctional ligand NOTA to synthesize a novel molecular probe 68Ga-NOTA-CD44 targeting HA. The biological properties of the probe, such as labeling rate and in vitro stability, were studied. Three atherosclerotic plaque model mice and three normal C57BL/6 mice were studied by 68Ga-NOTA-CD44 microPET/CT imaging and pathological examination. Results:68Ga-NOTA-CD44 tracer was synthesized and purified with the radiochemical purity above 99%, and the specific activity was up to 62.22 MBq/nmol. lts stability was good in PBS, and the radiochemical purity was over 90% after incubation for 3 h. After intravenous injection, the probe was metabolized mainly by the kidneys, and its metabolic level decreased successively in the liver, lungs and blood. MicroPET/CT imaging results of atherosclerotic model mice suggested that the uptake in the plaque of abdominal aorta was higher at 60 min after injection, with SUV max and target/background ratio (TBR) max of 1.14±0.02 and 4.95±0.93, and the probe had certain atherosclerotic plaque eroded targeting, which was consistent with the pathological result. Conclusions:As a novel probe, 68Ga-NOTA-CD44 is simple to prepare and has a high labeling rate. It has good physicochemical properties and in vivo biological properties, and can display atherosclerotic eroded plaques sensitively. 68Ga-NOTA-CD44 has a promising prospect to be a new molecular probe for early noninvasive recognition of atherosclerotic eroded plaques.

Objective:To report the results of national surveillance on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2022.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of national bloodstream infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）were collected during January 2022 to December 2022. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，9 035 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 51 hospitals，of which 7 895（87.4%）were Enterobacteriaceae and 1 140（12.6%）were non-fermenting bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（ n=4 510，49.9%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（ n=2 340，25.9%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（ n=534，5.9%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（ n=405，4.5%）and Enterobacter cloacae（ n=327，3.6%）. The ESBLs-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus spp. were 47.1%（2 095/4 452），21.0%（427/2 033）and 41.1%（58/141），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（58/4 510）and 13.1%（307/2 340）；62.1%（36/58）and 9.8%（30/307）of CREC and CRKP were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 59.5%（241/405），while less than 5% of Acinetobacter baumannii complex was resistant to tigecycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 18.4%（98/534）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of main Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CRKP and CRPA（ χ2=20.489 and 20.252， P<0.001）. The prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA，CRAB，ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were higher in provinicial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=11.953，81.183，10.404，5.915，12.415 and 6.459， P<0.01 or <0.05），while the prevalence of CRPA was higher in economically developed regions（per capita GDP ≥ 92 059 Yuan）than that in economically less-developed regions（per capita GDP <92 059 Yuan）（ χ2=6.240， P=0.012）. Conclusions:The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections shows an increasing trend，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of CRKP decreases continuously with time. Decreasing trends are noted in ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Low prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli and high prevalence in CRAB complex have been observed. The composition ratio and antibacterial spectrum of bloodstream infections in different regions of China are slightly different，and the proportion of main drug resistant bacteria in provincial hospitals is higher than those in municipal hospitals.

BACKGROUND:The expression efficiency of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 9(rAAV9)carrying the macrophage-specific promoter synthetic promoter 146-C1(SP146-C1)and the exogenous gene vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGFC)in atherosclerosis is uncertain. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression efficiency of rAAV9-SP146-C1-VEGFC in atherosclerotic mice and its effect on lymphangiogenesis. METHODS:Thirty ApoE-/-mice were fed high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish atherosclerosis models and were randomly divided into six groups,five in each group:7-,14-,21-,28-,and 35-day transfection groups and control group.The mice in the transfection groups were transfected with 5.0×1011 vg rAAV9-SP146-C1-VEGFC by caudal vein injection.In the control group,the mice were injected with the same amount of control virus rAAV9-SP146-C1-Scramble.Animals in the first five groups were killed under anesthesia at 7,14,21,28 and 35 days after transfection,respectively,and those in the control group were killed under anesthesia at 7 days.Serum,femur,tibia,heart and aorta tissue samples were collected and retained in each group.The femur and tibia of mice in each group were used to extract bone marrow-derived macrophages.The gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGFC),vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3(VEGFR3),Podoplanin and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1(LYVE-1)in bone marrow-derived macrophages and the aorta were detected by RT-qPCR.VEGFC protein expression levels in bone marrow-derived macrophages and the aorta were detected by western blot,serum level of VEGFC was detected by ELISA,and VEGFC expression in the aortic sinus and LYVE-1 expression around the aorta and in the myocardium was detected by immunofluorescence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The serum level of VEGFC,the mRNA expression of VEGFC,VEGFR3,Podoplanin,and LYVE-1 in bone marrow-derived macrophages and the aorta,the protein expression of VEGFC in bone marrow-derived macrophages,and the fluorescence intensity of VEGFC in aortic sinus plaques were significantly increased in the 7-day transfection group compared with the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Serum VEGFC level of mice transfected with rAAV9-SP146-C1-VEGFC gradually increased with time and began to decrease at 28 days.mRNA levels of VEGFC,VEGFR3,Podoplanin and LYVE-1 in mouse aorta and bone marrow-derived macrophages,VEGFC protein level in bone marrow-derived macrophages,VEGFC fluorescence intensity in aortic sinus plaques,LYVE-1 fluorescence intensity around the aortic sinus and in the myocardium gradually increased with time(P＜0.05).In addition,the mRNA level of LYVE-1 in the aorta and the fluorescence intensity of LYVE-1 around the aortic sinus and in the myocardium were the highest at 28 days(P＜0.05),and gradually decreased(P＜0.05).The expression of the other indicators reached the peak at 21 days.To conclude,rAAV9-SP146-C1-VEGFC could effectively transfect bone marrow-derived macrophages and promote lymphatic hyperplasia in atherosclerotic mice.

AIM:To investigate the molecular mechanisms of KG-1 cell proliferation by profiling its responses to various protein kinase inhibitors.METHODS:CCK-8 assay,real time quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)and Western-blot were used to detect the effect of various protein kinase inhibitors on KG-1 cell proliferation,the expression levels of mRNA and phosphorylation level of signaling pro-teins in the FGFR1 downstream pathways.RE-SULTS:NVP-BGJ398 and PD173074 effectively in-hibited the proliferation of KG-1 cells,indicative of a crucial role of FGFR downstream signaling.After treatment with FGFR inhibitors,the levels of p-FG-FR1OP2-FGFR1 and p-STAT5 decreased significantly(P<0.001),p-AKT decreased slightly(P<0.05),with-out affecting the p-ERK level(P>0.05).CONCLU-SION:FGFR1OP2-FGFR1 mainly acts on the down-stream STAT5 signaling pathway to promote cell proliferation.Comprehensive protein kinase inhibi-tion analysis is a reliable and direct approach to identify functional drivers of cancer cell prolifera-tion.