Objective:To investigate the uptake patterns of 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose ( 18F-FDG) in the endometrium using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and to differentiate these from stage IA endometrial cancer. Methods:From September 2022 to April 2024, a prospective inclusion of 354 women without gynecological diseases and no hormone usage who underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT examinations at the affiliated hospital of Qingdao University were set as the physiological group, while a group containing 42 cases of Stage IA endometrial carcinoma was also set. The physiological group was divided into five groups based on the menstrual cycle: menstrual period, proliferative phase, ovulatory phase, secretory phase, and menopausal phase. The images were analyzed using visual and quantitative measurements; quantitative analysis indicators were standardized uptake value maximum (SUVmax) and the region of interest/liver ratio (R/L value). Receiver operating characteristic (ROCs) curve was used to determine the optimal cutoff values for SUVmax and R/L value. A clinical model was established using binary logistic regression, and ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive performance of the model. Results:The uptake of 18F-FDG in the endometrium exhibited cyclical variations throughout different physiological phases, with higher uptakes observed during the menstrual and ovulation phases (SUVmax values of 6.66±3.26 and 3.89±1.21, respectively), which are significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase [median SUVmax of 2.54 (2.02, 3.47)], secretory phase (SUVmax of 2.55±0.86), and menopausal phase [SUVmax median of 2.04 (1.69, 2.29)]. During the menstrual and ovulation phases, the radiotracer accumulation patterns were triangular in 105 cases, oval in 32 cases, and round-like in 2 cases. All 42 cases of endometrial cancer showed 18F-FDG uptake, with radiotracer accumulation patterns being round-like in 17 cases, oval in 10 cases, triangular in 9 cases, and irregular in 6 cases. There were statistically significant differences in the shapes of radiotracer concentration between the menstrual, ovulatory periods, and endometrial carcinoma (both P＜0.001). The SUVmax and R/L values in menstrual period and ovulatory period were significantly lower than that in endometrial carcinoma group ( P＜0.001). During the menstrual phase, the optimal cutoff values for SUVmax and R/L in distinguishing between endometrial and endometrial cancer were 12.59 and 3.81, respectively, with corresponding AUCs of 0.885 and 0.842. After incorporating endometrial uptake morphology into the model, the AUCs was improved to 0.969 and 0.948, respectively. During the ovulatory phase, the optimal cutoff values for SUVmax and R/L were 5.96 and 2.85, respectively, with AUCs of 0.984 and 0.968. After integrating endometrial uptake morphology into the model, the AUCs were increased to 0.999 and 0.998, respectively. Conclusions:The 18F-FDG PET imaging of the endometrium shows higher uptake during the menstrual and ovulatory periods, primarily triangular in shape; endometrial carcinoma uptake is significantly higher than the physiological uptake during the menstrual and ovulatory periods, mainly in circular, oval, and irregular shapes. When SUVmax≥5.96, R/L≥2.85, combined with the physiological cycle of the subjects and the morphological characteristics of the radiotracer concentration, it is possible to effectively differentiate between physiological uptake and Stage IA endometrial carcinoma.

Parkinson disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease whose incidence increases year by year as the population ages.TCM compounds for the treatment of Parkinson disease has the characteristics of multiple components,targets,and pathways.Combined treatment with Western medicine can achieve synergistic effects and reduce adverse drug reactions.This article focused on the mechanism of TCM compounds for the treatment of Parkinson disease,reviewed relevant experimental studies in recent years.TCM compounds may exert therapeutic effects on Parkinson disease by regulating oxidative stress,mitochondrial dysfunction,neurotransmitters,neuroinflammation,abnormal protein aggregation,cell apoptosis,stem cell transplantation,neurotrophic factors,second messengers,and other mechanisms,in order to provide basis for clinical treatment of Parkinson disease.

Parkinson disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease whose incidence increases year by year as the population ages.TCM compounds for the treatment of Parkinson disease has the characteristics of multiple components,targets,and pathways.Combined treatment with Western medicine can achieve synergistic effects and reduce adverse drug reactions.This article focused on the mechanism of TCM compounds for the treatment of Parkinson disease,reviewed relevant experimental studies in recent years.TCM compounds may exert therapeutic effects on Parkinson disease by regulating oxidative stress,mitochondrial dysfunction,neurotransmitters,neuroinflammation,abnormal protein aggregation,cell apoptosis,stem cell transplantation,neurotrophic factors,second messengers,and other mechanisms,in order to provide basis for clinical treatment of Parkinson disease.

Objective:To investigate the uptake patterns of 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose ( 18F-FDG) in the endometrium using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and to differentiate these from stage IA endometrial cancer. Methods:From September 2022 to April 2024, a prospective inclusion of 354 women without gynecological diseases and no hormone usage who underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT examinations at the affiliated hospital of Qingdao University were set as the physiological group, while a group containing 42 cases of Stage IA endometrial carcinoma was also set. The physiological group was divided into five groups based on the menstrual cycle: menstrual period, proliferative phase, ovulatory phase, secretory phase, and menopausal phase. The images were analyzed using visual and quantitative measurements; quantitative analysis indicators were standardized uptake value maximum (SUVmax) and the region of interest/liver ratio (R/L value). Receiver operating characteristic (ROCs) curve was used to determine the optimal cutoff values for SUVmax and R/L value. A clinical model was established using binary logistic regression, and ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive performance of the model. Results:The uptake of 18F-FDG in the endometrium exhibited cyclical variations throughout different physiological phases, with higher uptakes observed during the menstrual and ovulation phases (SUVmax values of 6.66±3.26 and 3.89±1.21, respectively), which are significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase [median SUVmax of 2.54 (2.02, 3.47)], secretory phase (SUVmax of 2.55±0.86), and menopausal phase [SUVmax median of 2.04 (1.69, 2.29)]. During the menstrual and ovulation phases, the radiotracer accumulation patterns were triangular in 105 cases, oval in 32 cases, and round-like in 2 cases. All 42 cases of endometrial cancer showed 18F-FDG uptake, with radiotracer accumulation patterns being round-like in 17 cases, oval in 10 cases, triangular in 9 cases, and irregular in 6 cases. There were statistically significant differences in the shapes of radiotracer concentration between the menstrual, ovulatory periods, and endometrial carcinoma (both P＜0.001). The SUVmax and R/L values in menstrual period and ovulatory period were significantly lower than that in endometrial carcinoma group ( P＜0.001). During the menstrual phase, the optimal cutoff values for SUVmax and R/L in distinguishing between endometrial and endometrial cancer were 12.59 and 3.81, respectively, with corresponding AUCs of 0.885 and 0.842. After incorporating endometrial uptake morphology into the model, the AUCs was improved to 0.969 and 0.948, respectively. During the ovulatory phase, the optimal cutoff values for SUVmax and R/L were 5.96 and 2.85, respectively, with AUCs of 0.984 and 0.968. After integrating endometrial uptake morphology into the model, the AUCs were increased to 0.999 and 0.998, respectively. Conclusions:The 18F-FDG PET imaging of the endometrium shows higher uptake during the menstrual and ovulatory periods, primarily triangular in shape; endometrial carcinoma uptake is significantly higher than the physiological uptake during the menstrual and ovulatory periods, mainly in circular, oval, and irregular shapes. When SUVmax≥5.96, R/L≥2.85, combined with the physiological cycle of the subjects and the morphological characteristics of the radiotracer concentration, it is possible to effectively differentiate between physiological uptake and Stage IA endometrial carcinoma.

Objective:To investigate the values of two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic parameters in predicting pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in chronic pulmonary thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Methods:A total of 141 patients diagnosed with CTEPH in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2015 to December 2022 were included. Two-dimensional echocardiographic indicators reflecting PVR were constructed according to the calculation formula of PVR: echocardiographic estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP Echo)/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd), echocardiographic estimated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP Echo)/LVIDd. sPAP Echo/left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), sPAP Echo/left ventricular cardiac output (LVCO) were measured by three-dimensional echocardiography. The correlations between two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiographic ratios and invasive PVR were then analyzed using the Spearman correlation method. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, cut-off values for the ratios were generated to identify patients with PVR>1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5. Pre- and postoperative hemodynamics and echocardiographic data were analyzed, as well as the correlation between the reduction rate of the echocardiographic index and PVR in 54 patients who underwent pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). Results:sPAP Echo/LVIDd, sPAP Echo/LVEDV and sPAP Echo/LVCO were moderately correlated with PVR( rs=0.62, 0.52, 0.63, both P<0.001). The ratio of sPAP Echo to LVEDV, when greater than or equal to 1.41, had a sensitivity of 0.800 and a specificity of 0.930 for determining PVR >1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5 (AUC=0.860, P<0.001). Similarly, the ratio of sPAP Echo to LVIDd, when greater than or equal to 2.14, had a sensitivity of 0.647 and a specificity of 0.861 for determining PVR >1000 dyn·s -1·cm -5 (AUC=0.830, P<0.001). The sPAP Echo/LVIDd and mPAP Echo/LVIDd significantly decreased after PEA (both P<0.001). The sPAP Echo/LVIDd and mPAP Echo/LVIDd reduction rate (ΔsPAP Echo/LVIDd and ΔmPAP Echo/LVIDd) were significantly correlated with PVR reduction rate (ΔPVR), respectively ( rs=0.61, 0.63, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Two-dimensional ratio sPAP Echo/LVIDd and three-dimensional ratio sPAP Echo/LVEDV can be used to noninvasively estimate PVR in CTEPH patients. The conventional ratio sPAP Echo/LVIDd is convenient and reproducibly suitable for monitoring the improvement of PVR before and after treatment, and its ratio of 2.14 can predict the significant increase of PVR in CTEPH patients (>1 000 dyn·s -1·cm -5).

Objective To observe the effects of compound Dihuang Granules on striatum PINK1,Parkin and α-syn in rats with Parkinson disease yin-deficiency and wind movement syndrome;To explore the mechanism of compound Dihuang Granules in the treatment of Parkinson disease yin-deficiency and wind movement syndrome.Methods 6-hydroxydopamine was injected into the substantia nigra of the midbrain to prepare the model of PD yin-deficiency and wind movement syndrome.Totally 65 model rats were randomly divided into model group,Madopar(150 mg/kg)group,and TCM low-,medium-,and high-dosage(1.75,3.5,7 g/kg)groups.Another 26 rats were divided into normal control group and sham-operation group,with 13 rats in each group.Each administration group was given corresponding medication solution by gavage,the normal control group,sham-operation group and the model group were given equivalent volume of normal saline,once a day for 28 consecutive days.The behavioral changes of rats were detected,ELISA and biochemical assay kits were used to detect ATP content and COX Ⅳactivity in striatum,HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the striatum,immunohistochemistry staining,Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of PINK1,Parkin,α-syn protein and mRNA in striatal tissue.Results Compared with the normal control group and the sham-operation group,the rats in the model group showed increased number of rotations and pole climbing time,decreased swimming score(P<0.01),the ATP content and COX Ⅳ activity in striatum tissue decreased(P<0.01),with disordered arrangement and reduced number of neurons,cell swelling,partial nuclear shrinkage,formation of vacuoles,and blurred boundaries,the expressions of PINK1,Parkin protein and mRNA in striatal tissue decreased(P<0.01),and the expressions of α-syn protein and mRNA increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of rotations and pole climbing time of rats in each medication group decreased,swimming scores increased(P<0.01),ATP content and COX Ⅳ activity in striatal tissue increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the number of neurons increased,the arrangement tended to be neat,and the morphology improved,the expressions of PINK1,Parkin protein and mRNA in striatal tissue increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the expressions of α-syn protein and mRNA decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).The improvement was most significant in the Medopar group and TCM high-dosage group(P<0.05,P<0.01),and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05),and TCM groups showed dosage dependence(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Compound Dihuang Granules can improve the behavioral symptoms of Parkinson disease yin-deficiency and wind movement syndrome,possibly by regulating the expressions of PINK1,Parkin and α-syn in the striatum tissue,thereby alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction,protecting dopaminergic neurons,and playing a role in treating Parkinson disease.

Objective To observe the effect of compound Dihuang Granules on the expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDAC1 in liver and colonic tissue of Parkinson disease(PD)rats with yin deficiency and wind movement syndrome.Methods 6-Hydroxydopamine was used to inject into the right substantia nigra to prepare PD with yin deficiency and wind movement syndrome rats model.65 rats that successfully modeled were randomly divided into model group,madopar group(madopar 150 mg/kg)and TCM low-,medium-and high-dosage groups(compound Dihuang Granules 1.75,3.5,7 g/kg),with 13 rats in each group;another 13 rats without intervention were selected as the normal control group,and 13 rats were only injected with ascorbic acid solution as sham-operation group.The administration groups were given corresponding drugs by gavage,and the normal control group,sham-operation group and model group were given normal saline by gavage,once a day for 28 consecutive days.The neurobehavioral changes of rats were observed,and the morphology of liver tissue and colonic tissue were observed by HE staining,the protein and mRNA expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDAC1 in liver and colonic tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining,Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively.Results Compared with the normal control group and the sham-operation group,the number of rotation circles of rats in the model group increased,with granular degeneration of liver tissue,loose cytoplasm of cells,slight hepatic steatosis,edema of colonic mucosal and submucosal layers,loose connective tissue,infiltration of a small number of lymphocytes,and significant vascular dilation,the expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDAC1 protein and mRNA in liver and colonic tissue were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of rotation circles of rats in madopar group and TCM groups were significantly decreased,with mild granular degeneration of liver cells,loose cytoplasm,orderly arrangement of hepatic cords,mild edema of the colon,a small amount of lymphocyte and granulocyte infiltration,and a small amount of vascular dilation,the protein and mRNA expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDAC1 in liver and colonic tissue significantly increased(P<0.05).The TCM high-dosage group showing the most obvious changes,there was no statistical significance with the madopar group(P>0.05).Conclusion Compound Dihuang Granules may restore endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria homeostasis,improve gut-liver-brain axis mitochondrial function,protect dopamine neurons,and delay PD by regulating the expressions of DJ-1,IP3R,GRP75 and VDAC1 in liver tissue and colonic tissue.

OBJECTIVE To explore the molecular mechanism of Compound Dihuang Granule in treating Parkinson's disease(PD)with yin-deficiency and dynamic wind syndrome by regulating the changes of ubiquitin-proteasome system-related proteins.METHODS SPF male SD rats were randomly selected as normal control group and sham operation group,13 rats in each group.The remaining rats were treated with 6-hydroxydopamine lateral brain injection to damage the substantia nigra to establish PD yin-deficien-cy and dynamic wind syndrome rat model.The established rats were randomly divided into model group,madopar group(150 mg·kg-1),low,medium and high dose groups of Compound Dihuang Granule(1.75,3.5,7 g·kg-1),13 rats in each group.Each group was given drugs by intragastric gavage for 28 d.The general conditions and neurobehavioral manifestations of the rats were observed;the expression of ubiquitin(UB),ubiquitin activating enzyme(UBE1),ubiquitin conjugating enzyme(UBE2A)and ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase(UCH-L1)positive cells,protein and mRNA expression levels in the damaged lateral stria-tum of the brain of rats were detected by immunohistochemistry,Western blot and qPCR methods;changes of dopamine(DA)content in the damaged lateral striatum of the brain of rats were detected by ELISA.RESULTS There was no significant difference in general conditions between the normal control group and the sham operation group,and there was no significant difference in the number of ro-tations,suspension time and number of moving grids.Compared to the sham-op group,the model group rats showed poor spirit,irrita-bility,limb tremor,slow movement,dark yellow fur,less food intake,reduced body weight;the modeling increased number of rota-tions,decreased hanging time and number of moving grids(P<0.01),significantly decreased expression of UB,UBE1,UBE2A,and UCH-L1 positive cells,mRNA and protein expression levels in the damaged lateral striatum(P<0.01),and significantly decreased DA content(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the general condition of the rats in the madopar group and Compound Di-huang Granule groups was improved,the number of rotations was reduced,the hanging time and number of moving grids were increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the expression of UB,UBE1,UBE2A,and UCH-L1 positive cells,mRNA and protein expression levels were increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the DA content was increased(P<0.01);behavioral tests and the expression levels of various in-dicators were most significantly improved in the madopar group and the high-dose Compound Dihuang Granule group(P<0.05,P<0.01),and there was no statistical significance between the two groups.CONCLUSION Compound Dihuang Granule may play a role in treating PD yin-deficiency and dynamic wind syndrome by regulating the expression of ubiquitin-proteasome system-related proteins,reducing abnormal protein aggregation,and thus alleviating DA content deficiency,and the high-dose Compound Dihuang Granule has the best effect.

Objective:To assess the configuration and systolic function of the left ventricle in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) by routine ultrasound, two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging and three-dimensional echocardiography, and to observe the recovery after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA).Methods:The patients who were diagnosed with CTEPH, underwent PEA and had no left heart disease were enrolled as the CTEPH group ( n=30) in the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2016 and June 2021. The right heart catheterization data before and after surgery were recorded. In the meantime, gender- and age-matched healthy individuals who sought for physical examination during the same period were included as the control group ( n=23). Echocardiography findings before and after PEA were comparatively analyzed and compared between the two groups, including left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), right and left ventricular cross-section ratio (RVd/LVd), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), left ventricular end-diastolic/systolic volume index (LVEDVi/LVESVi), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV). Associations between the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP)/pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and left ventricular function were discussed. Results:When compared with the control group, the LVEDd, LVEDVi, LVESVi, LVSV, LVGLS and the mitral early to late diastolic flow velocity ratio (E/A) in the CTEPH group were lower (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding LVEF, cardiac output (CO), and cardiac index (CI) (all P>0.05). There were no statistical differences of the left ventricular volume and LVSV between PEA group and the control group (both P>0.05), while the LVGLS and E/A remained lower (both P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed negative associations between mPAP and LVSV as well as E/A ( r=-0.490, -0.455; both P<0.05). Conclusions:There are changes in left ventricular configuration with abnormal filling pattern and potential systolic dysfunction in CTEPH patients. The PEA surgery could lead to recovery of the left ventricular configuration and volume, but the filling pattern and LVGLS at follow-up can not recover completely.