Objective:To investigate the clinical value of 18F-NaF PET/CT coronary plague imaging in evaluating the long-term prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 54 patients (37 males and 17 females, aged (57.2±9.8) years) diagnosed with CAD from a multicenter study between September 2015 and October 2022. All patients underwent 18F-NaF PET/CT and coronary angiography (CAG) within 1 week, and the PET/CT imaging was performed at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were followed up. ROC curves were established to obtain the optimal thresholds of SUV max and accumulated SUV max of all lesions of main coronary artery branches (S-SUV max) for predicting MACE. Cox proportional risk model and Kaplan-Meier method (log-rank test) were used to analyze the predictive value of PET parameters for MACE. Differences in metabolic parameters between 2 groups were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The median follow-up time of the 54 patients was 6.0(1.8, 6.6) years, and 13(24.1%) patients developed MACE, including 7 deaths, 5 myocardial infarction and 1 severe arrhythmia. S-SUV max in MACE group was significantly higher than that in the non-MACE group (2.64(2.08, 4.49) vs 1.83(0.95, 2.90); Z=-2.04, P=0.041). ROC curve showed that the optimal threshold of S-SUV max for MACE prediction was 2.05 (AUC=0.690). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that S-SUV max was a strong predictor of MACE (hazard ratio ( HR)=2.434(95% CI: 1.547-3.828), P<0.001). ROC curve showed that the optimal threshold of SUV max to predict MACE was 0.55 (AUC=0.659), and univariate Cox analysis showed that SUV max was a factor to predict MACE ( HR=10.192 (95% CI: 2.667-38.953), P=0.001). In 25 patients with incomplete revascularization (ICR), Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the incidence of MACE in patients with positive 18F-NaF uptake (single medium stenosis (40%-70%) with SUV max≥0.55) was significantly higher than that in patients with negative 18F-NaF uptake (5/14 vs 0/11; χ2=6.07, P=0.014). Conclusions:18F-NaF PET/CT can be used as an independent predictor of MACE in patients with CAD and can quantitatively assess the long-term progression of moderate coronary artery stenosis. In the future, it is expected to be a new non-invasive way to guide the revascularization treatment decision of multi-vessel CAD.

Objective:To explore the association between the use of tetracyclines during pregnancy and congenital malformations, with the aim of providing evidence-based guidance for the rational use of antibiotics during pregnancy.Methods:Data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the Canada Vigilance Adverse Reaction (CVAR) database from January 2015 to September 2024 were collected. Five methods including Tree-based scan statistic (TreeScan), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), reporting odds ratio (ROR), the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) comprehensive standard, and the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN) were used to detect signals of risk for congenital malformations in offspring following maternal use of tetracyclines during pregnancy. A signal that met the threshold criteria of all above 5 methods was considered as a risk signal. Based on population-based cohort of the drug exposures and adverse pregnancy outcomes (DEEP) data from January 2013 to December 2021 in Xiamen City, propensity score matching (PSM)-based Poisson regression was applied to evaluate the association between the first-trimester tetracyclines exposure and congenital malformations in offspring. Adjusted relative risk (a RR) and its 95% confidence interval ( CI) were calculated. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the reliability of the results. Results:A total of 304 098 reports of adverse events during pregnancy were obtained from the FAERS and CVAR databases. Among them, 5 028 reports were related to tetracyclines, including 1 026 reports of congenital malformations in offspring, involving congenital malformations of musculoskeletal system, other digestive system, and other congenital malformations. Signal detection results suggested that tetracyclines may be a risk signal for above congenital malformations in offspring. The DEEP data included 411 936 pregnant women. After PSM, 240 pregnant women exposed to tetracyclines were included. The results showed no significant association between the first-trimester tetracyclines exposure and congenital malformations in offspring (a RR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.26-2.17), sensitivity analysis also showed no correlation. Conclusions:Data mining from the FAERS and CVAR databases suggests a potential association between tetracyclines use during pregnancy and congenital malformations in offspring. However, the DEEP data study shows no significant correlation.

Objective:To explore the association between the use of tetracyclines during pregnancy and congenital malformations, with the aim of providing evidence-based guidance for the rational use of antibiotics during pregnancy.Methods:Data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the Canada Vigilance Adverse Reaction (CVAR) database from January 2015 to September 2024 were collected. Five methods including Tree-based scan statistic (TreeScan), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), reporting odds ratio (ROR), the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) comprehensive standard, and the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN) were used to detect signals of risk for congenital malformations in offspring following maternal use of tetracyclines during pregnancy. A signal that met the threshold criteria of all above 5 methods was considered as a risk signal. Based on population-based cohort of the drug exposures and adverse pregnancy outcomes (DEEP) data from January 2013 to December 2021 in Xiamen City, propensity score matching (PSM)-based Poisson regression was applied to evaluate the association between the first-trimester tetracyclines exposure and congenital malformations in offspring. Adjusted relative risk (a RR) and its 95% confidence interval ( CI) were calculated. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the reliability of the results. Results:A total of 304 098 reports of adverse events during pregnancy were obtained from the FAERS and CVAR databases. Among them, 5 028 reports were related to tetracyclines, including 1 026 reports of congenital malformations in offspring, involving congenital malformations of musculoskeletal system, other digestive system, and other congenital malformations. Signal detection results suggested that tetracyclines may be a risk signal for above congenital malformations in offspring. The DEEP data included 411 936 pregnant women. After PSM, 240 pregnant women exposed to tetracyclines were included. The results showed no significant association between the first-trimester tetracyclines exposure and congenital malformations in offspring (a RR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.26-2.17), sensitivity analysis also showed no correlation. Conclusions:Data mining from the FAERS and CVAR databases suggests a potential association between tetracyclines use during pregnancy and congenital malformations in offspring. However, the DEEP data study shows no significant correlation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of 18F-NaF PET/CT coronary plague imaging in evaluating the long-term prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 54 patients (37 males and 17 females, aged (57.2±9.8) years) diagnosed with CAD from a multicenter study between September 2015 and October 2022. All patients underwent 18F-NaF PET/CT and coronary angiography (CAG) within 1 week, and the PET/CT imaging was performed at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were followed up. ROC curves were established to obtain the optimal thresholds of SUV max and accumulated SUV max of all lesions of main coronary artery branches (S-SUV max) for predicting MACE. Cox proportional risk model and Kaplan-Meier method (log-rank test) were used to analyze the predictive value of PET parameters for MACE. Differences in metabolic parameters between 2 groups were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The median follow-up time of the 54 patients was 6.0(1.8, 6.6) years, and 13(24.1%) patients developed MACE, including 7 deaths, 5 myocardial infarction and 1 severe arrhythmia. S-SUV max in MACE group was significantly higher than that in the non-MACE group (2.64(2.08, 4.49) vs 1.83(0.95, 2.90); Z=-2.04, P=0.041). ROC curve showed that the optimal threshold of S-SUV max for MACE prediction was 2.05 (AUC=0.690). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that S-SUV max was a strong predictor of MACE (hazard ratio ( HR)=2.434(95% CI: 1.547-3.828), P<0.001). ROC curve showed that the optimal threshold of SUV max to predict MACE was 0.55 (AUC=0.659), and univariate Cox analysis showed that SUV max was a factor to predict MACE ( HR=10.192 (95% CI: 2.667-38.953), P=0.001). In 25 patients with incomplete revascularization (ICR), Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the incidence of MACE in patients with positive 18F-NaF uptake (single medium stenosis (40%-70%) with SUV max≥0.55) was significantly higher than that in patients with negative 18F-NaF uptake (5/14 vs 0/11; χ2=6.07, P=0.014). Conclusions:18F-NaF PET/CT can be used as an independent predictor of MACE in patients with CAD and can quantitatively assess the long-term progression of moderate coronary artery stenosis. In the future, it is expected to be a new non-invasive way to guide the revascularization treatment decision of multi-vessel CAD.

Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant Schistosoma japonicum egg ribonuclease SjCP1412 (rSjCP1412) on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and activation of human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 in vitro, and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods The rSjCP1412 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 by prokaryotic expression, and the highly purified soluble rSjCP1412 protein was prepared by Ni NTA affinity chromatography and urea gradient refolding dialysis. Yeast RNA was digested using 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg rSjCP1412 proteins at 37 °C for 2, 3, 4 h, and the enzymatic products were electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gel to observe the RNAase activity of rSjCP1412 protein. The proliferation of LX-2 cells stimulated by different doses of rSjCP1412 protein for 48 hours was measured using CCK-8 assay, and the apoptosis of LX-2 cells stimulated by different doses of rSjCP1412 protein for 48 hours was detected using the Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining, while the percentage of LX-2 cells at G0/G1, S and G2/M phases of cell cycle following stimulation with different doses of rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h was detected by DAPI staining. The type I collagen, type III collagen and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA expression was quantified using quantitative florescent real-time PCR (qPCR) assay and Western blotting at transcriptional and translational levels in LX-2 cells following stimulation with different doses of rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h, while soluble egg antigen (SEA) served a positive control and PBS without rSjCP1412 protein as a normal control in the above experiments. The expression of collagen I, α-SMA and Smad4 protein was determined using Western blotting in LX-2 cells following stimulation with rSjCP1412 protein, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) alone or in combination, to examine the signaling for the effect of rSjCP1412 protein on LX-2 cells. Results The rSjCP1412 protein was successfully expressed and the highly purified soluble rSjCP1412 protein was prepared, which had a RNase activity. Compared with the normal group, the survival rates of LX-2 cells significantly decreased post-treatment with 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg/mL rSjCP1412 protein and SEA for 48 h (F = 22.417 and 20.448, both P values < 0.05). The apoptotic rates of LX-2 cells significantly increased post-treatment with 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg/mL rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h (F = 11.350, P < 0.05), and treatment with 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg/mL rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h resulted in arrest of LX-2 cells in G0/G1 phase (F = 20.710, P < 0.05). Treatment with 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg/mL rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h caused a significant reduction in relative expression levels of collagen I (F = 11.340, P < 0.05), collagen III (F = 456.600, P < 0.05) and α-SMA mRNA (F = 23.100, P < 0.05) in LX-2 cells, and both rSjCP1412 protein and SEA treatment caused a significant reduction in collagen I (F = 1 302.000, P < 0.05), α-SMA (F = 49.750, P < 0.05) and Smad4 protein expression (F = 52.420, P < 0.05) in LX-2 cells. In addition, rSjCP1412 protein treatment inhibited collagen I (F = 66.290, P < 0.05), α-SMA (F = 31.300, P < 0.05) and Smad4 protein expression (F = 27.010, P < 0.05) in LX-2 cells activated by TGF-β1. Conclusion rSjCP1412 protein may induce apoptosis of LX-2 cells and inhibit proliferation, cell cycle and activation of LX-2 cells through down-regulating Smad4 signaling molecules.

Objective:In general, patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are considered to show an aggressive disease course. However, the relationship between the two subgroups in disease severity is controversial. Our study is aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis of double-seropositive and seronegative RA in China through a real-world large scale study.Methods:RA patients who met the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria or the 2010 ACR/European Anti-Rheumatism Alliance RA classification criteria, and who attended the 10 hospitals across the country from September 2015 to January 2020, were enrolled. According to the serological status, patients were divided into 4 subgroups [rheumatoid factor (RF)(-) anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody (-), RF(+), RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+), anti-CCP antibody(+)] and compared the disease characteristics and treatment response. One-way analysis of variance was used for measurement data that conformed to normal distribution, Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for measurement data that did not conform to normal distribution; paired t test was used for comparison before and after treatment within the group if the data was normally distributed else paired rank sum test was used; χ2 test was used for count data. Results:① A total of 2 461 patients were included, including 1 813 RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) patients (73.67%), 129 RF(+) patients (5.24%), 245 RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) patients (9.96%), 74 anti-CCP antibody(+) patients (11.13%). ② Regardless of the CCP status, RF(+) patients had an early age of onset [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) (51±14) years old, anti-CCP antibody(+) (50±15) years old, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) (48±14) years old, RF(+)(48±13) years old, F=3.003, P=0.029], longer disease duration [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 50 (20, 126) months, anti-CCP antibody(+) 60(24, 150) months, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 89(35, 179) months, RF(+) 83(25, 160) months, H=22.001, P<0.01], more joint swelling counts (SJC) [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 2(0, 6), Anti-CCP antibody(+) 2(0, 5), RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 2(0, 7), RF(+) 2(0, 6), H=8.939, P=0.03] and tender joint counts (TJC) [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 3(0, 8), anti-CCP antibody(+) 2(0, 6), RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 3(1, 9), RF(+) 2(0, 8), H=11.341, P=0.01] and the morning stiff time was longer [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 30(0, 60) min, anti-CCP antibody(+) 20(0, 60) min, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 30(10, 60) min, RF(+) 30(10, 60) min, H=13.32, P<0.01]; ESR [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 17(9, 38) mm/1 h, anti-CCP antibody(+) 20(10, 35) mm/1 h, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 26(14, 45) mm/1 h, RF(+) 28(14, 50) mm/1 h, H=37.084, P<0.01] and CRP [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) 2.3 (0.8, 15.9) mm/L, Anti-CCP antibody(+) 2.7(0.7, 12.1) mm/L, RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) 5.2(1.3, 17.2) mm/L, RF (+) 5.2(0.9, 16.2) mm/L, H=22.141, P<0.01] of the RF(+)patients were significantly higher than RF(-) patients, and RF(+) patients had higher disease severity(DAS28-ESR) [RF(-) anti-CCP antibody(-) (4.0±1.8), anti-CCP antibody(+) (3.8±1.6), RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) (4.3±1.8), RF(+) (4.1±1.7), F=7.269, P<0.01]. ③ The RF(+) anti-CCP antibody(+) patients were divided into 4 subgroups, and it was found that RF-H anti-CCP antibody-L patients had higher disease severity [RF-H anti-CCP antibody-H 4.3(2.9, 5.6), RF-L anti-CCP antibody-L 4.5(3.0, 5.7), RF-H anti-CCP antibody-L 4.9(3.1, 6.2), RF-L anti-CCP antibody-H 2.8(1.8, 3.9), H=20.374, P<0.01]. ④ After 3-month follow up, the clinical characteristics of the four groups were improved, but there was no significant difference in the improvement of the four groups, indicating that the RF and anti-CCP antibody status did not affect the remission within 3 months. Conclusion:Among RA patients, the disease activity of RA patients is closely related to RF and the RF(+) patients have more severe disease than RF(-) patients. Patients with higher RF titer also have more severe disease than that of patients with low RF titer. After 3 months of medication treatment, the antibody status does not affect the disease remission rate.

Objective:To compare the incidence of coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) between patients with non-obstructive and obstructive coronary arteries.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 97 patients with angina pectoris, who underwent the absolute quantitative PET examination of myocardial perfusion and coronary anatomy examination within 90 days. All patients were divided into two groups: non-obstructive group (72 cases, no stenosis ≥50% in all three coronary arteries) and obstructive group (25 cases, at least one coronary stenosis ≥50%; and at least one coronary stenosis<50%). Quantitative parameters derived from PET including rest myocardial blood flow (RMBF), stress myocardial blood flow (SMBF), coronary flow reserve (CFR) and cardiovascular risk factors were compared between the two groups. CMVD was defined as CFR<2.90 and SMBF <2.17 ml·min -1·g -1. Results:Incidence of CMVD was significant higher in the non-obstructive coronary arteries of the obstructive group than in the non-obstructive coronary arteries of non-obstructive group (47.1% (16/34) vs. 25.5% (55/216), χ 2=6.738, P=0.009) while incidence of CMVD was similar between non-obstructive and obstructive patients ((44% (11/25) vs. 33.3% (24/72), χ 2=0.915, P=0.339). RMBF ((0.83±0.14) ml·min -1·g -1 vs. (0.82±0.17) ml·min -1·g -1), SMBF ((2.13±0.60) ml·min -1·g -1 vs. (1.91±0.50) ml·min -1·g -1) and CFR (2.59±0.66 vs. 2.36±0.47) were similar between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:CMVD can occur in non-obstructive coronary arteries in both patients with non-occlusive coronary arteries and patients with obstructive coronary arteries. Prevalence of CMVD is significantly higher in patients with obstructive coronary arteries than in patients with non-obstructive coronary arteries. The CMVD severity is similar between the two groups.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR) in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) after acute myocardial infraction (AMI).Methods A total of 123 patients (103 males,20 females,age:(60.6± 11.2) years) with LVSD after AMI who underwent 99Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitnle (MIBI) gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (GSMPI) from January 2014 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.Summed rest score (SRS) and total perfusion deficit (TPD) were acquired by using quantitative perfusion SPECT (QPS) soft-ware.Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),end-diastolic volume (EDV),end-systolic volume (ESV),PER,and PFR were calculated by using quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) software.The clinical parameters of patients were recorded and the cardiac events were taken as the endpoint of follow-up (median time:27 (range:9-50) months).Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between PER and PFR.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate optimal cut-off values of PER and PFR for predicting cardiac events.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were also used for data analysis.Results There was a great correlation between PER and PFR (r =-0.931,P＜0.001).Optimal cut-off values of PER and PFR for predicting cardiac events were-1.10 EDV/s and 1.09 EDV/s respectively.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that cumulative survival rate without cardiac events was lower in patients (n=48) with-PER≤ 1.10 EDV/s than that in patients (n=75) with-PER＞ 1.10 EDV/s (16.7％ vs 66.7％;x2=60.096,P＜0.001),and the same rate in patients (n=50) with PFR ≤ 1.09 EDV/s was lower than that in patients (n=73) with PFR＞1.09 EDV/s (16.0％ vs 68.5％;x2=74.771,P＜0.001).Cox multivariate analysis showed that PER (hazard ratio (HR)=0.40,95％ CI:0.20-0.83) and PFR (HR=0.22,95％ CI:0.12-0.47) were independent predictors for cardiac events.Conclusion There is a great correlation between PER and PFR in patients with LVSD after AMI and they are independent predictors for cardiac events.

Objective Toinvestigatethecharacteristicsofclinicalpathologyand MRIofintracranialsolitaryfibroustumor/hemangiopericytoma (SFT/HPC).Methods ThisstudyanalyzedtheMRIimages,pathologicalandclinicaldataof14SFT/HPCpatientsretrospectively. AllthecasesweresubjectedtoMRIplainscanandenhancementexamination.CharacteristicsofMRIofallcaseswerereviewedtogetherwith clinicopathologicchanges.Results AllSFT/HPClesionswerelocatedintheintracranialbutextra-cerebralspace.6werelocatedabovethe tentoriumofcerebellum,and2werelocatedbelowit.Lesionsof6patientswereacrossthetentoriumofcerebellumandspreadfrom supratentorialtosubtenorialspace.Amongalllesions,4wereroundinshape,10werelobulated,and3weresmallnodulesaroundthe edge.9ofthemexhibitednecrosisandcysticstructures.11lesionsshowedhypointensityand3casesshowedisointensityonT1WI.All thelesionswereheterogeneoushyperintensetyonT2WI,and5ofthemdisplayed"yin-yang"patternonT2WI.11casesexhibitededema.Signalof vascularvoidflow wasobservedin6cases.Thesolidpartsofthetumorsshowedsignificanthomogeneousenhancementon MRI. StrongpositiveSTAT6stainingwasobservedforthenuclearoftumorcells.Conclusion ItisdifficulttodifferentiateSFT/HPCfrom meningeoma.The"yin-yang"patternonT2WIisthecharacteristicofSFT/HPC.Inaddition,nuclearpositivestainingofSTAT6isalsospecific featureofSFT/HPCcell.

Objective To analyze the pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella enteritidisstrains isolated in Longyan city in order to provide reference for effective control, clinical diagnosis and treatment of outbreaks of food-borne diseases.Methods Seventy-seven Salmonella enteritidis strains isolated from food poisoning cases, livestock and poultry meat samples collected for food safety risk monitoring and sporadic cases in 2014 and 2016 were analyzed by PFGE.Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 16 common antibiotics to 57 strains.Results Seventeen PFGE types were identified among the 77 Salmonella strains including three predominant types (P4, P6 and P8) and were grouped into three major pulsotypes (Cluster1-3) at 90% similarity level.The predominant types causing outbreaks of Salmonella enteritidis infection were P8, P6, P4 and P14, which were responsible for five cases of food poisoning.These isolated strains were highly resistant to nalidixic acid (93%), followed by resistance towards ampicillin (74%) and streptomycin (54%).Forty-one strains were resistant to three or more antibiotics (71.93%).Conclusion The PFGE types of Salmonella enteritidis strains isolated in Longyan city exhibit polymorphism and are clustered into three major pulsotypes.PFGE molecular typing can provide early-warning of sporadic outbreaks and help to identify the sources of infections in Salmonella enteritidis-related food poisoning.Attentions should be paid to multidrug resistant Salmonella enteritidis.Surveillance for multidrug resistant strains and usage of antibiotics should be strengthened.