Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of black blood computed tomography(BBCT)in vulnerable plaques at the carotid bifurcation.Methods The imaging data of 73 patients with suspected carotid atherosclerosis were retrospectively analyzed.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of conventional computed tomography angiography(CTA)ima-ges and BBCT images were compared by paired sample t-test.The 5-level scoring method was applied to evaluate the image quality subjectively,and the Friedman test was used to compare the differences in the subjective evaluation of image quality among the groups.Taking high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging(HRMR-VWI)as the gold standard,the diagnostic value between BBCT and conventional CTA was compared,and the consistency of BBCT and HRMR-VWI in the evaluation of vulnerable plaques was calculated.Results The standard deviation(SD)value of BBCT images was lower than that of conventional three-phase CTA images,indicating better quality of BBCT images(P＜0.001).The mean CT value and CNRplaque-lumen of non-calcified plaques were higher in BBCT images than those in conventional three-phase CTA images,suggesting that BBCT had a higher contrast with sur-rounding tissues and could better display the fine structure of non-calcified plaques(P＜0.001).BBCT images achieved the highest scores in the subjective evaluation of image quality(P＜0.001).Compared with conventional CTA images,BBCT had higher sensi-tivity(88.2％vs 29.4％)and accuracy(90.9％vs 54.5％)in identifying vulnerable plaques(P＜0.001).The Kappa value between BBCT and HRMR-VWI was 0.813,showed good consistency.Conclusion The image quality of neck BBCT is superior to that of conventional CTA.BBCT has a better effect than conventional CTA in identifying vulnerable plaques at the carotid bifurcation,which is comparable to HRMR-VWI.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of black blood computed tomography(BBCT)in vulnerable plaques at the carotid bifurcation.Methods The imaging data of 73 patients with suspected carotid atherosclerosis were retrospectively analyzed.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of conventional computed tomography angiography(CTA)ima-ges and BBCT images were compared by paired sample t-test.The 5-level scoring method was applied to evaluate the image quality subjectively,and the Friedman test was used to compare the differences in the subjective evaluation of image quality among the groups.Taking high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging(HRMR-VWI)as the gold standard,the diagnostic value between BBCT and conventional CTA was compared,and the consistency of BBCT and HRMR-VWI in the evaluation of vulnerable plaques was calculated.Results The standard deviation(SD)value of BBCT images was lower than that of conventional three-phase CTA images,indicating better quality of BBCT images(P＜0.001).The mean CT value and CNRplaque-lumen of non-calcified plaques were higher in BBCT images than those in conventional three-phase CTA images,suggesting that BBCT had a higher contrast with sur-rounding tissues and could better display the fine structure of non-calcified plaques(P＜0.001).BBCT images achieved the highest scores in the subjective evaluation of image quality(P＜0.001).Compared with conventional CTA images,BBCT had higher sensi-tivity(88.2％vs 29.4％)and accuracy(90.9％vs 54.5％)in identifying vulnerable plaques(P＜0.001).The Kappa value between BBCT and HRMR-VWI was 0.813,showed good consistency.Conclusion The image quality of neck BBCT is superior to that of conventional CTA.BBCT has a better effect than conventional CTA in identifying vulnerable plaques at the carotid bifurcation,which is comparable to HRMR-VWI.

Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Inflammation/genetics* ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apoptosis

ObjectiveTo determine the mechanism of Yitangkang in correcting excessive apoptosis of skeletal muscle cells to improve insulin resistance （IR） by inhibiting the advanced glycation end product （AGE）/receptor for the advanced glycation end product （RAGE） signaling pathway. Method① In vitro experiments. Yitangkang-medicated serum was prepared. C2C12 cells were divided into a blank group， a model group， high-， medium-， and low-dose Yitangkang-medicated serum groups （40， 20， and 10 g·kg^-1）， and a RAGE inhibitor group. The IR model was induced by palmitic acid in C2C12 cells except for those in the blank group. After the corresponding intervention methods were conducted，the cell viability and glucose consumption level of each group were determined. In addition，the apoptosis rate was determined using flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of the important apoptotic proteins ［B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， p53， cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 （Caspase-3）， and cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-9 （Caspase-9）］ were determined using Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot. ② In vivo experiments. Ninety-six eligible Wistar rats were divided into a blank group， a model group， high-，medium-，and low-dose Yitangkang groups （40， 20， and 10 g·kg^-1）， and a western medicine group （pioglitazone hydrochloride，1.35 mg·kg^-1）. The IR model was induced using high-glucose and high-fat feed for diabetes combined with intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin （STZ） in animals and verified by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp （HEC） test. After the model was determined successfully， the rats in each group were given intragastric administration of drugs as required. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） assay was performed to determine the number of positive apoptotic cells in the skeletal muscle tissues of rats in each group，while Real-time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and Western blot were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of the important apoptotic proteins Bcl-2， Bax， p53， Caspase-3， and Caspase-9. Result① In vitro experiments. compared with the blank group， the model groups showed increased apoptosis rate of C2C12 cells and decreased cell viability and glucose consumption （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yitangkang-medicated serum groups and the RAGE inhibitor group showed decreased apoptosis rate of C2C12 cells and increased cell viability and glucose consumption （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed decreased expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in C2C12 cells and increased mRNA and protein expression levels of Bax， p53， Caspase-3， and Caspase-9 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yitangkang-medicated serum groups and the RAGE inhibitor group showed increased expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in C2C12 cells （P<0.01） and decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of Bax， p53， Caspase-3， and Caspase-9 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ② In vivo experiments. The number of positive apoptotic cells in the skeletal muscle tissues of rats in the model group significantly increased as compared with that in the blank group （P<0.01）. The number of positive apoptotic cells in the skeletal muscle tissues of rats in the Yitangkang groups and the western medicine group decreased as compared with that in the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed decreased expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in skeletal muscle tissues of rats and increased mRNA and protein expression levels of Bax， p53， Caspase-3， and Caspase-9 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yitangkang groups and the western medicine group showed increased expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in skeletal muscle tissues of rats （P<0.01） and decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of Bax， p53， Caspase-3， and Caspase-9 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The medium-dose Yitangkang showed a similar effect as RAGE inhibitor， and the effect was equivalent to that of pioglitazone hydrochloride. ConclusionYitangkang can inhibit skeletal muscle cell apoptosis by inhibiting the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway.

Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology* ; Antibodies, Viral/immunology* ; COVID-19/virology* ; COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology* ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity* ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology* ; Vaccines, Inactivated/immunology*

How distinct transcriptional programs are enacted to generate cellular heterogeneity and plasticity,and enable complex fate decisions are important open questions.One key regulator is the cell's epigenome state that drives distinct transcriptional programs by regulating chromatin acces-sibility.Genome-wide chromatin accessibility measurements can impart insights into regulatory sequences (in)accessible to DNA-binding proteins at a single-cell resolution.This review outlines molecular methods and bioinformatic tools for capturing cell-to-cell chromatin variation using single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (scATAC-seq) in a scalable fashion.It also covers joint profiling of chromatin with transcriptome/proteome measurements,computational strategies to integrate multi-omic measurements,and predictive bioinformatic tools to infer chromatin accessibility from single-cell transcriptomic datasets.Methodological refinements that increase power for cell discovery through robust chromatin coverage and integrate measure-ments from multiple modalities will further expand our understanding of gene regulation during homeostasis and disease.