Objective:This study investigates the utility of ultrasound in diagnosing eosinophilic fasciitis (EF).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and ultrasound data of 109 EF patients seen at the center between January 1, 2006, and March 31, 2024. The diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound for EF was evaluated by comparing forearm fascia ultrasound findings among EF patients, systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, and healthy controls (HC).Results:Among the 109 EF patients (male-to-female ratio 2.2︰1), the median age of onset was 36 (29, 48) years, with a median disease duration of 7 (3, 12) months. The study also included 20 SSc patients [median age 49 (35, 61) years] and 20 HC individuals [median age 48 (29, 54) years]. Ultrasound assessments of forearm fascia in EF patients revealed a median fascial thickness of 1.9 (1.4, 2.4) mm. The median fascial thickness was 0.8 (0.7, 0.9) mm in SSc patients and 0.7 (0.5, 0.9) mm in HC individuals. Fascial thickness in EF patients was greater than in SSc ( Z=-11.16, P<0.001) and HC groups ( Z=-11.87, P<0.001). There was a correlation between fascia thickness and C-reactive protein ( r=0.148, P=0.004), erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r=0.143, P=0.005), and immunoglobulin G ( r=0.120, P=0.020) in EF patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated a sensitivity of 84.0% and specificity of 95.9% for EF diagnosis, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.921 and a cut-off value of 1.005 mm. Conclusion:Ultrasound detection of forearm fascial thickening (>1 mm) aids in diagnosing eosinophilic fasciitis, indicating that ultrasound is a supplementary diagnostic tool for EF.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effects of graphene heating film far-infrared (FIR) hyperthermia therapy against frostbite in mice and its impacts on microcirculation and coagulation function. METHODS: Seventy-six C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control, model, graphene-FIR, and carbon fiber-FIR groups. After 7-day FIR intervention (4 h/day), the mice were subjected to acute (4 ℃, 4 h) and intermittent (4 ℃, 4 h/day for 3 days) cold exposure and the changes in rectal temperature were monitored. In liquid nitrogen frostbite experiment, 24 ICR mice were divided into model, graphene-FIR, and carbon fiber-FIR groups, and after a 7-day FIR pretreatment (4 h/day), the liquid nitrogen frostbite models were established and apparent scores of the wounds were assessed on days 3 and 6 after modeling. In carrageenan-induced thrombosis experiment, 40 ICR mice were allocated to control, model, graphene-FIR, carbon fiber-FIR, and prazosin groups to test the effect of a 7-day FIR intervention on thrombosis induced by intraperitoneal carrageenan injection (2.5 mg/kg) by measuring thrombus length, blood perfusion, and serum biomarkers (6-keto-PGF1α, TXB2, t-PA, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF‑α) 24 h after the injection. RESULTS: The mice in graphene-FIR group showed significantly elevated rectal temperature in cold exposure tests. In mice with liquid nitrogen-induced frostbite, graphene-FIR treatment significantly reduced the wound scores and reduced frostbite area, producing better effects than carbon fiber. In mice with carrageenan-induced thrombosis, graphene-FIR treatment significantly decreased tail thrombosis length and thrombosis area, increased blood perfusion, lowered serum levels of TXB2, TNF-α and IL-6, and increased the levels of 6-keto-PGF1α and t-PA. CONCLUSIONS Graphene heating film FIR therapy can alleviate frostbite injury in mice by improving microcirculation, suppressing thrombosis and inflammatory responses, and reducing coagulation dysfunction.
Animals ; Frostbite/therapy* ; Graphite ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Infrared Rays ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Hyperthermia, Induced/methods* ; Male ; Microcirculation

To investigate the efficacy and safety of aromatase inhibitors (AI) combined with recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) in improving the final height (FH) of boys in late puberty.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role and mechanisms of the soluble guanylate cyclase(sGC)stimulator sGC003 in improving high altitude pulmonary edema(HAPE)in mice.METHODS Mice were randomly assigned to a normal control group,model group,model+dexamethasone 4 mg·kg-1 group(before modeling,intragastric administration of saline was performed once daily for 6 d,followed by intragastric administration of dexamethasone 4 mg·kg-1 on days 7 and 8),model+riociguat 10 mg·kg-1 group(before modeling,intragastric administration once a day for 7 d),and model+sGC003 5 and 10 mg·kg-1 groups(before modeling,intragastric administration once a day for 7 d).All groups except the normal control group received intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide at a dose of 4 mg·kg-11 h after drug administration on day 7,followed by placement in a hypoxic environment to establish the HAPE model.After 24 h of modeling,the expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,and breathing frequency were measured,Lung tissue morphology was examined using HE staining,and lung tissue edema was assessed by determining the wet to dry weight ratio(W/D).The level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)was determined using immunofluorescence staining.The phosphorylation level of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein(VASP)in lung tissue was analyzed by Western blotting.Additionally,levels of sGC,hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP),IL-6,and IL-1βin serum were quantified using ELISA.RESULTS Compared with the normal control group,the model group had obvious pulmonary edema,and the lung W/D,IL-1β levels,expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,as well as serum levels of IL-1β,HIF-1α and IL-6 were significantly increased.Concurrently,the frequency of breathing and serum levels of sGC and cGMP were significantly decreased.Compared with model group,the expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,lung W/D and IL-1β levels,and serum levels of IL-1β,HIF-1α and IL-6 were significantly decreased in the model+sGC003 10 mg·kg-1 group;while the frequency of breathing,serum sGC and cGMP levels,phosphorylation level of VASP in lung tissues were significantly increased.CONCLUSION sGC003 can improve lung function,suppress pulmonary inflammation,and mitigate pulmonary edema in HAPE mice by activating the sGC/cGMP pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator sGC003F on cardiac function in mice with chronic heart failure(CHF).METHODS C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into the sham operation(sham)group,transverse aortic constriction induced CHF mouse model group,model+veliciguat(Ver,3 mg·kg-1)group(positive control)and model+sGC003F(3 and 10 mg·kg-1)group.Four weeks after modeling,drugs were ig given,once a day,for 28 d.Echocardiography was used to measure the changes in cardiac function,and the myocardial hypertrophy related indexes were calculated.The levels of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-pro-BNP),N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide(NT-pro-ANP),soluble guanylate cyclase(sGC),cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP)and inflammatory factors interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and IL-1β were detected by ELISA.The pathological changes of left heart tissue were observed with HE and Masson staining.Image was used to analyze the percentage of fibrosis in cardiac tissus stained with Masson.The activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD),content of malondialdehyde(MDA)in myocardial tissue,and level of nitric oxide(NO)in serum were detected by biochemical detection kits.The protein expression levels of p-mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR),p-protein kinase B(p-Akt),TNF-α and IL-6 in cardiac tissue were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS Com-pared with the sham group,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFs)in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01),the cardiac structure changed significantly,the percentage of myocardial fibrosis increased significantly(P<0.05),so were serum NT-pro-BNP and NT-pro-ANP levels(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the above indexes of the model+Ver group and the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group were significantly improved(P<0.05,P<0.01).The sGC003F 10 mg·kg-1 group had a significant improvement in LVEF,LVFs,and NT-pro-BNP(P<0.01).Compared with the sham group,the serum levels of NO,sGC and cGMP in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the serum levels of NO,sGC and cGMP were significantly increased in the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.01),but only serum cGMP levels were significantly increased in model+Ver and model+sGC003F 10 mg·kg-1 groups(P<0.01).Compared with the sham group,the serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased in the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.05,P<0.01),and only the TNF-α level was significantly decreased in the model+sGC003F 10 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.01).Compared with the sham group,the SOD activity of the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),but the MDA content significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,SOD and MDA were significantly improved in the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.05,P<0.01),but in the model+Ver group only the SOD activity significantly increased(P<0.05).Western blotting showed that the expressions of p-mTOR,p-Akt,TNF-α and IL-6 protein in myocardial tissue of the model group were significantly higher than in the sham group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the expressions of the above proteins in the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),so were the expressions of TNF-α protein in the model+sGC003F 10 mg·kg-1 group and model+Ver group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION sGC003F can improve cardiac function,and reduce myocardial fibrosis in CHF model mice,which may be related to the inhibition of myocardial oxidative stress and inflammation,and the regulation of NO/sGC/cGMP and AKT/mTOR signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role and mechanisms of the soluble guanylate cyclase(sGC)stimulator sGC003 in improving high altitude pulmonary edema(HAPE)in mice.METHODS Mice were randomly assigned to a normal control group,model group,model+dexamethasone 4 mg·kg-1 group(before modeling,intragastric administration of saline was performed once daily for 6 d,followed by intragastric administration of dexamethasone 4 mg·kg-1 on days 7 and 8),model+riociguat 10 mg·kg-1 group(before modeling,intragastric administration once a day for 7 d),and model+sGC003 5 and 10 mg·kg-1 groups(before modeling,intragastric administration once a day for 7 d).All groups except the normal control group received intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide at a dose of 4 mg·kg-11 h after drug administration on day 7,followed by placement in a hypoxic environment to establish the HAPE model.After 24 h of modeling,the expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,and breathing frequency were measured,Lung tissue morphology was examined using HE staining,and lung tissue edema was assessed by determining the wet to dry weight ratio(W/D).The level of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)was determined using immunofluorescence staining.The phosphorylation level of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein(VASP)in lung tissue was analyzed by Western blotting.Additionally,levels of sGC,hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP),IL-6,and IL-1βin serum were quantified using ELISA.RESULTS Compared with the normal control group,the model group had obvious pulmonary edema,and the lung W/D,IL-1β levels,expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,as well as serum levels of IL-1β,HIF-1α and IL-6 were significantly increased.Concurrently,the frequency of breathing and serum levels of sGC and cGMP were significantly decreased.Compared with model group,the expiratory time,end-inspiratory pause,enhanced pause,lung W/D and IL-1β levels,and serum levels of IL-1β,HIF-1α and IL-6 were significantly decreased in the model+sGC003 10 mg·kg-1 group;while the frequency of breathing,serum sGC and cGMP levels,phosphorylation level of VASP in lung tissues were significantly increased.CONCLUSION sGC003 can improve lung function,suppress pulmonary inflammation,and mitigate pulmonary edema in HAPE mice by activating the sGC/cGMP pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect and mechanism of soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator sGC003F on cardiac function in mice with chronic heart failure(CHF).METHODS C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into the sham operation(sham)group,transverse aortic constriction induced CHF mouse model group,model+veliciguat(Ver,3 mg·kg-1)group(positive control)and model+sGC003F(3 and 10 mg·kg-1)group.Four weeks after modeling,drugs were ig given,once a day,for 28 d.Echocardiography was used to measure the changes in cardiac function,and the myocardial hypertrophy related indexes were calculated.The levels of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-pro-BNP),N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide(NT-pro-ANP),soluble guanylate cyclase(sGC),cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP)and inflammatory factors interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and IL-1β were detected by ELISA.The pathological changes of left heart tissue were observed with HE and Masson staining.Image was used to analyze the percentage of fibrosis in cardiac tissus stained with Masson.The activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD),content of malondialdehyde(MDA)in myocardial tissue,and level of nitric oxide(NO)in serum were detected by biochemical detection kits.The protein expression levels of p-mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR),p-protein kinase B(p-Akt),TNF-α and IL-6 in cardiac tissue were detected by Western blotting.RESULTS Com-pared with the sham group,the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFs)in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01),the cardiac structure changed significantly,the percentage of myocardial fibrosis increased significantly(P<0.05),so were serum NT-pro-BNP and NT-pro-ANP levels(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the above indexes of the model+Ver group and the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group were significantly improved(P<0.05,P<0.01).The sGC003F 10 mg·kg-1 group had a significant improvement in LVEF,LVFs,and NT-pro-BNP(P<0.01).Compared with the sham group,the serum levels of NO,sGC and cGMP in the model group decreased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the serum levels of NO,sGC and cGMP were significantly increased in the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.01),but only serum cGMP levels were significantly increased in model+Ver and model+sGC003F 10 mg·kg-1 groups(P<0.01).Compared with the sham group,the serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the serum levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased in the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.05,P<0.01),and only the TNF-α level was significantly decreased in the model+sGC003F 10 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.01).Compared with the sham group,the SOD activity of the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),but the MDA content significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,SOD and MDA were significantly improved in the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group(P<0.05,P<0.01),but in the model+Ver group only the SOD activity significantly increased(P<0.05).Western blotting showed that the expressions of p-mTOR,p-Akt,TNF-α and IL-6 protein in myocardial tissue of the model group were significantly higher than in the sham group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the expressions of the above proteins in the model+sGC003F 3 mg·kg-1 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),so were the expressions of TNF-α protein in the model+sGC003F 10 mg·kg-1 group and model+Ver group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION sGC003F can improve cardiac function,and reduce myocardial fibrosis in CHF model mice,which may be related to the inhibition of myocardial oxidative stress and inflammation,and the regulation of NO/sGC/cGMP and AKT/mTOR signaling pathways.

Objective:This study investigates the utility of ultrasound in diagnosing eosinophilic fasciitis (EF).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and ultrasound data of 109 EF patients seen at the center between January 1, 2006, and March 31, 2024. The diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound for EF was evaluated by comparing forearm fascia ultrasound findings among EF patients, systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, and healthy controls (HC).Results:Among the 109 EF patients (male-to-female ratio 2.2︰1), the median age of onset was 36 (29, 48) years, with a median disease duration of 7 (3, 12) months. The study also included 20 SSc patients [median age 49 (35, 61) years] and 20 HC individuals [median age 48 (29, 54) years]. Ultrasound assessments of forearm fascia in EF patients revealed a median fascial thickness of 1.9 (1.4, 2.4) mm. The median fascial thickness was 0.8 (0.7, 0.9) mm in SSc patients and 0.7 (0.5, 0.9) mm in HC individuals. Fascial thickness in EF patients was greater than in SSc ( Z=-11.16, P<0.001) and HC groups ( Z=-11.87, P<0.001). There was a correlation between fascia thickness and C-reactive protein ( r=0.148, P=0.004), erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r=0.143, P=0.005), and immunoglobulin G ( r=0.120, P=0.020) in EF patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated a sensitivity of 84.0% and specificity of 95.9% for EF diagnosis, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.921 and a cut-off value of 1.005 mm. Conclusion:Ultrasound detection of forearm fascial thickening (>1 mm) aids in diagnosing eosinophilic fasciitis, indicating that ultrasound is a supplementary diagnostic tool for EF.

Objective:To study and design one kind of flash radiotherapy(Flash-RT)equipment with ultra-high dose rate,which can be used in the mechanism research of Flash-RT with ultra-high dose rate.Methods:Based on the technique roadmap of high-power petal accelerator,the Flash-RT equipment can realize the requirement of Flash-RT for ultra-high dose rate and multiple irradiation angles.The corresponding design and research work were carried out on the basis of the overall design of the equipment,the main components and characteristics,the dynamics design of beam,the construction of movable and preliminary experimental platform,etc.Result:The dose rate of the designed equipment can reach to 100 Gy/s at a distance of 0.8 meters from the target point,which is easy to realize the radiotherapy method with multi angles.Conclusion:The designed X-ray equipment based on the technique roadmap of high-power petal accelerator can realize the research for the mechanism of medical Flash-RT equipment with ultra-high dose rate.

The protection effect of flash-radiotherapy(Flash-RT)with super-high dose on normal tissue has obtained wide attention in therapeutic radiology since it was found in 2014 year.The increasing research demand of Flash-RT with super-high dose-rate proposed new challenge for the existing radiotherapy equipment.Based on the demands of FLASH-RT research and clinical application,this review analyzed the proposed new requirement of Flash-RT for equipment,and introduce current scientific facilities with the experimental ability of X-ray FLASH-RT,as well as the situation of the specialized FLASH-RT equipment which were developing.The research of Flash-RT mechanism need the existing equipment with high-energy X-ray source develop toward high power,while the clinical application of Flash-RT demand these transient high-power devices should possess a series of radiotherapy techniques such as multi angle irradiation,conformal radiotherapy and others.Currently,China's X-ray FLASH-RT research is at the forefront of the world,which is expected to achieve the first breakthrough of high-end medical equipment in the X-ray Flash RT field.