Objective To explore the application value of MRI diaphragmatic navigation technology combined with three dimensional liver acquisition with volume acceleration-flexible(3D LAVA-FLEX)sequence in abdominal enhanced imaging of infants and young children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on imaging data of 84 infants and young children who underwent abdominal enhanced MRI examination in our hospital between January 2021 and December 2023.All 84 infants and young children initially underwent conventional dynamic contrast-enhanced 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence scanning;the delayed phase images obtained were included in the dynamic enhancement group.Subsequently,diaphragmatic navigation combined with 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence examination was implemented,and the obtained images were included in the diaphragm navigation group.Subjective scoring was performed for images in both groups,while the signal to noise ratio(SNR),contrast to noise ratio(CNR),and artifact quantification(AQ)were measured and compared between the two groups.Results The respiratory motion artifacts,the clarity of liver parenchyma enhancement,the clarity of liver vascular enhancement,the clarity of spleen parenchyma enhancement and the overall image quality score in the diaphragm navigation group were higher than those in the dynamic enhancement group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in SNR and AQ between the two groups of images(P<0.000 1),while there was no statistically significant difference in CNR between the two groups of images(P>0.05).Conclusion Diaphragmatic navigation technology combined with 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence imaging can improve the image quality of abdominal MRI enhanced imaging in infants and young children,and provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of lung zinc ions to pathogenesis of lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group, lung I/R group (I/R group), lung I/R + low-dose zinc chloride group (LZnCl₂+I/R group), lung I/R + high-dose ZnCl₂ group (HZnCl₂+I/R group), lung I/R + medium-dose ZnCl₂ group (MZnCl₂+I/R group) and TPEN+MZnCl₂+I/R group (n = 8 in each group). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure the concentration of zinc ions in lung tissue. The degree of lung tissue injury was analyzed by observing HE staining, alveolar damage index, lung wet/dry weight ratio and lung tissue gross changes. TUNEL staining was used to detect cellular apoptosis in lung tissue. Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to determine the protein expression levels of caspase-3 and ZIP8, as well as the mRNA expression levels of zinc transporters (ZIP, ZNT) in lung tissue. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of lung tissue was detected by JC-1 MMP detection kit. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the lung tissue damage, lung wet/dry weight ratio and alveolar damage index were significantly increased in the I/R group. And in the lung tissue, the concentration of Zn²⁺ was markedly decreased, while the cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 ratio and apoptotic levels were significantly increased. The expression levels of ZIP8 mRNA and protein were down-regulated significantly, while the mRNA expression of other zinc transporters remained unchanged. There was also a significant decrease in MMP. Compared with the I/R group, both MZnCl₂+I/R group and HZnCl₂+I/R group exhibited significantly reduced lung tissue injury, lung wet/dry weight ratio and alveolar damage index, increased Zn²⁺ concentration, decreased ratio of cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 and apoptosis, and up-regulated expression levels of ZIP8 mRNA and protein. In addition, the MMP was significantly increased in the lung tissue. Zn²⁺ chelating agent TPEN reversed the above-mentioned protective effects of medium-dose ZnCl₂ on the lung tissue in the I/R group. The aforementioned results suggest that exogenous administration of ZnCl₂ can improve lung I/R injury in rats.
Animals ; Reperfusion Injury/pathology* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Chlorides/administration & dosage* ; Lung/pathology* ; Zinc Compounds/administration & dosage* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cation Transport Proteins/metabolism*

This study aims to investigate the effect of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula on the neuroinflammation of rats with insomnia complicated with depression through the regulation of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)/complement protein C1q signaling pathway. Rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a positive drug group, as well as a high, medium, and low-dose groups of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, the other groups were injected with p-chlorophenylalanine and exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress to establish the rat model of insomnia complicated with depression. The sucrose preference experiment, open field experiment, and water maze test were performed to evaluate the depression in rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to detect serum 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), dopamine(DA), and norepinephrine(NE) levels. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the damage in nucleus accumbens neurons. Western blot and immunofluorescence were performed to detect TREM2, C1q, postsynaptic density 95(PSD-95), and synaptophysin 1(SYN1) expressions in rat nucleus accumbens, respectively. Golgi-Cox staining was utilized to observe the synaptic spine density of nucleus accumbens neurons. The results show that, compared with the model group, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can significantly increase the sucrose preference as well as the distance and number of voluntary activities, shorten the immobility time in forced swimming test and the successful incubation period of positioning navigation, and prolong the stay time of space exploration in the target quadrant test. The serum 5-HT, DA, and NE contents in the model group are significantly lower than those in the normal group, with the above contents significantly increased after the intervention of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula. In addition, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can alleviate pathological damages such as swelling and loose arrangement of tissue cells in the nucleus accumbens, while increasing the Nissl body numbers. Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can improve synaptic damage in the nucleus accumbens and increase the synaptic spine density. Compared to the normal group, the expression of C1q protein was significantly higher in the model group, while the expression of TREM2 protein was significantly lower. Compared to the model group, the intervention with Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula significantly downregulated the expression of C1q protein and significantly upregulated the expression of TREM2. Compared with the model group, the PSD-95 and SYN1 fluorescence intensity is significantly increased in the groups receiving different doses of Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula. In summary, Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula can reduce the C1q protein expression, relieve the TREM2 inhibition, and promote the synapse-related proteins PSD-95 and SNY1 expression. Chaijin Jieyu Anshen Formula improves synaptic injury of the nucleus accumbens neurons, thereby treating insomnia complicated with depression.
Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Depression/complications* ; Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/complications* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Receptors, Immunologic/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Synapses/metabolism*

Objective To explore the application value of MRI diaphragmatic navigation technology combined with three dimensional liver acquisition with volume acceleration-flexible(3D LAVA-FLEX)sequence in abdominal enhanced imaging of infants and young children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on imaging data of 84 infants and young children who underwent abdominal enhanced MRI examination in our hospital between January 2021 and December 2023.All 84 infants and young children initially underwent conventional dynamic contrast-enhanced 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence scanning;the delayed phase images obtained were included in the dynamic enhancement group.Subsequently,diaphragmatic navigation combined with 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence examination was implemented,and the obtained images were included in the diaphragm navigation group.Subjective scoring was performed for images in both groups,while the signal to noise ratio(SNR),contrast to noise ratio(CNR),and artifact quantification(AQ)were measured and compared between the two groups.Results The respiratory motion artifacts,the clarity of liver parenchyma enhancement,the clarity of liver vascular enhancement,the clarity of spleen parenchyma enhancement and the overall image quality score in the diaphragm navigation group were higher than those in the dynamic enhancement group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in SNR and AQ between the two groups of images(P<0.000 1),while there was no statistically significant difference in CNR between the two groups of images(P>0.05).Conclusion Diaphragmatic navigation technology combined with 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence imaging can improve the image quality of abdominal MRI enhanced imaging in infants and young children,and provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)agents has become the primary treatment for macular edema associated with retinal vascular disease such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion, but there are limitations such as variable treatment efficacy and insufficient durability of therapeutic effects. As the first bispecific antibody applied in ophthalmic treatment, Faricimab achieves favorable outcomes by simultaneously targeting both VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2(Ang-2)pathways. Based on evidence from recent clinical trials and real-world studies, this article reviews the research progress on Faricimab for the treatment of diabetic macular edema(DME), retinal vein occlusion-associated macular edema(RVO-ME)and refractory macular edema compared to the therapeutic effects of other agents. Additionally, based on Faricimab's safety characteristics and future potential, its therapeutic prospects for macular edema associated with retinal vascular diseases are discussed. This review aims to provide evidence-based references for optimizing clinical treatment strategies, thereby contributing to mitigating the risk of vision loss due to macular edema.

Objective:To investigate the alterations in brain functional activity before and after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and their relations with cognitive impairment.Methods:A prospective observational study was performed; female breast cancer patients with CRCI admitted to Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital 6 of Nantong University were recruited, and age- and education level-matched female healthy controls were chosen. Before and one month after chemotherapy, statuses of cognitive function, depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients with CRCI were evaluated by Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), functional assessment of cancer therapy-cognitive function (FACT-cog), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS); subsequently, conventional MRI and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) were conducted. The healthy controls accepted MoCA, SDS, and SAS, followed by conventional MRI and rs-fMRI. Differences in clinical data and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF, rs-fMRI brain spontaneous neural activity index) were compared between breast cancer patients with CRCI before chemotherapy and healthy controls, and in the breast cancer patients with CRCI between before and after chemotherapy. Taking the brain regions with significant differences in ALFF before and after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with CRCI as seed points, the difference in whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) before and after chemotherapy was compared in breast cancer patients with CRCI. Pearson or Spearman correlation tests were used to analyze the correlations of ALFF and FC in brain regions with significant differences in ALFF with cognitive function scores in breast cancer patients with CRCI.Results:(1) A total of 22 breast cancer patients with CRCI and 22 healthy controls were enrolled. Compared with the healthy controls, the breast cancer patients with CRCI before chemotherapy had significantly higher SDS and SAS scores ( P<0.05). Compared with breast cancer patients with CRCI before chemotherapy, the breast cancer patients with CRCI after chemotherapy had significantly lower MoCA, FACT-cog-perceived cognitive impairment, FACT-cog-comment from others on cognitive function, and FACT-cog-perceived cognitive ability ( P<0.05). (2) Compared with those before chemotherapy, breast cancer patients with CRCI after chemotherapy exhibited significantly increased ALFF in the right precuneus, right middle occipital gyrus, and left superior frontal gyrus, while statistically decreased FC in the right middle occipital gyrus-left middle temporal gyrus, right precentral gyrus-right middle temporal gyrus, and left superior frontal gyrus-left fusiform gyrus ( P<0.05). (3) ALFF in the right precentral gyrus in breast cancer patients with CRCI after chemotherapy was negatively correlated with difference value of FACT-cog before and after chemotherapy ( r=-0.497, P=0.018) and difference value of PCA before and after chemotherapy ( r s=-0.436, P=0.042); FC in the left superior frontal gyrus-left fusiform gyrus was positively correlated with score of FACT-cog-perceived cognitive impairment ( r=0.621, P=0.002). Conclusion:Chemotherapy induces compensatory enhancement of spontaneous neural activity in multiple brain regions in breast cancer patients with CRCI, accompanied by FC disruption at specific brain areas, which are associated with cognitive impairment.

AIM To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of aqueous extract of Cimicifugae Rhizoma on intestinal mucosa in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis(UC).METHODS The UC mouse models established by sodium dextran sulfate were allocated into different groups and administered with sulfasalazine(200 mg/kg)or aqueous extract of Cimicifugae Rhizoma(3.9,7.8 g/kg)by gavage,respectively.The mice had their changes of body weight,defecation patterns,disease activity index(DAI)and colon length recorded;their colon tissue pathological alterations and goblet cell quantification analyzed through HE and AB-PAS staining;their ROS levels in colon tissue measured via ELISA;their mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines,Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway components and NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway regulators in colon tissue assessed by RT-qPCR;their protein expressions of Nrf2/HO-1 and NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway verified by immunohistochemistry;and their ZO1 and Occludin tight junction proteins in colon tissues quantified by Western blot analysis.RESULTS Compared to the model group,the high-dose Cimicifugae Rhizoma aqueous extract group demonstrated significantly increased body weight,colon length and DAI scores(P＜0.01);mitigated intestinal mucosal barrier damage;reduced ROS levels in colon tissue(P＜0.01);suppressed mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in colon(P＜0.01);elevated expressions of tight junction protein ZO1 and Occludin in colon tissue(P＜0.05);upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2,NQO1 and HO-1 in colon tissue(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of Keap1(P＜0.05);and reduced expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome components(ASC,Caspase-1,GSDMD)in mRNA and protein(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).CONCLUSION The aqueous extract of Cimicifugae Rhizoma exerts protective effects against UC through dual mechanisms involving redox regulation and pyroptosis inhibition by reducing ROS level via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation and attenuating NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis via Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway inhibition,and thereby synergistically preserves the structural and functional integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier and mitigates UC progression.

AIM To evaluate the chemical constituent consistency in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula.METHODS HPLC characteristic chromatograms were established,the analysis was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic YMC-Triart C18 column(4.6 mm× 250 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.2％phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.Puerarin was used as an internal standard to calculate the relative correction factors of 3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin apioside,magnolflorine,paeoniflora,daidzin,baicalin,palmatine,berberine,wogonoside and benzoylpaeoniflorin,after which the content detemination was made by quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker(QAMS).RESULTS The characteristic chromatograms of 9 batches of formula granules and 15 bacthes of traditional decoctions demonstrated the similarities of more than 0.90 at the detection wavelengths of 192,210,240,260,280,300,320,360 nm,along with similar total peak areas.Eleven constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r＞0.999 0),whose average recoveries were 97.27％-101.64％with the RSDs of 0.36％-1.11％,the result obtained by QAMS and external standard method demonstrated no significant differences(P＞0.05).The contents of various constituents in the formula granules approximated those in the traditional decoctions.CONCLUSION The consistent kinds and contents of various constituents are obversable in formula granules and traditional decoctions of Gouteng Jiangya Formula,which can provide a reference for the reasonable clinical application of this formula.

Reninoma is a rare renal secretory tumor，prevalent in the young population. This disease is mostly surgically resected，and the use of microwave ablation to treat reninoma in children is scarce. A case of reninoma in a child was reported in this paper. The patient presented with refractory hypertension，hypokalemia，hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronemia. Enhanced CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed mass in the lower pole of the right kidney，which was considered as reninoma and microwave ablation was performed. The renin concentration decreased to 68.42 pg/ml at 4 hours after surgery. After 1 year of postoperative follow-up，there was no recurrence of hypertension and hypokalemia，and no signs of tumor recurrence were seen on repeated ultrasound examinations.