Purpose To provide technical support for the use of echo-planar imaging(EPI)in the diagnosis of brain diseases,the image quality and diagnostic effect of single-shot echo-planar imaging(ssEPI)diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)and multi-shot echo-planar imaging(msEPI)DWI sequences in the detection of brain diseases at 5.0T MR are analyzed.Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 42 patients with intracranial diseases who underwent T2-FLAIR,ssEPI DWI and msEPI DWI scans on a 5.0T MR system in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC from August to September 2023.Two radiologists independently assessed image quality,measured distortion displacement,and compared signal-to-noise ratio,lesion-to-normal tissue contrast,contrast-to-noise ratio and apparent diffusion coefficient.Results msEPI sequence demonstrated significantly superior subjective scores,including geometric distortion,susceptibility artifacts,edge sharpness and overall image quality compared with those of ssEPI sequence(Z=5.728,4.197,5.766,5.777,all P<0.001).Quantitative analysis revealed substantial reduction in distortion displacement in msEPI sequence,including frontal lobe[(5.91±1.41)mm vs.(15.63±2.21)mm,t=34.050,P<0.001],anterior temporal lobe[(4.17±0.78)mm vs.(7.18±1.87)mm,t=12.263,P<0.001],posterior temporal lobe[(4.76±1.36)mm vs.(8.38±2.01)mm,t=21.336,P<0.001],cerebral diameter[(4.37±1.65)mm vs.(12.74±2.84)mm,t=23.255,P<0.001]and brainstem diameter[(0.80±0.63)mm vs.(1.98±1.63)mm,t=7.092,P<0.001],compared with ssEPI sequence.However,no statistically significant differences were observed in signal-to-noise ratio or contrast-to-noise ratio between the two sequences(P=0.848,0.638).Notably,msEPI sequences exhibited significantly enhanced lesion-normal tissue contrast compared with ssEPI sequences[221(131,311)vs.150(90,240),Z=3.89,P<0.001].Conclusion At 5.0T MRI,msEPI demonstrated superior image quality and diagnostic performance for craniocerebral diseases compared to ssEPI DWI sequences.

Purpose To provide technical support for the use of echo-planar imaging(EPI)in the diagnosis of brain diseases,the image quality and diagnostic effect of single-shot echo-planar imaging(ssEPI)diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)and multi-shot echo-planar imaging(msEPI)DWI sequences in the detection of brain diseases at 5.0T MR are analyzed.Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 42 patients with intracranial diseases who underwent T2-FLAIR,ssEPI DWI and msEPI DWI scans on a 5.0T MR system in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC from August to September 2023.Two radiologists independently assessed image quality,measured distortion displacement,and compared signal-to-noise ratio,lesion-to-normal tissue contrast,contrast-to-noise ratio and apparent diffusion coefficient.Results msEPI sequence demonstrated significantly superior subjective scores,including geometric distortion,susceptibility artifacts,edge sharpness and overall image quality compared with those of ssEPI sequence(Z=5.728,4.197,5.766,5.777,all P<0.001).Quantitative analysis revealed substantial reduction in distortion displacement in msEPI sequence,including frontal lobe[(5.91±1.41)mm vs.(15.63±2.21)mm,t=34.050,P<0.001],anterior temporal lobe[(4.17±0.78)mm vs.(7.18±1.87)mm,t=12.263,P<0.001],posterior temporal lobe[(4.76±1.36)mm vs.(8.38±2.01)mm,t=21.336,P<0.001],cerebral diameter[(4.37±1.65)mm vs.(12.74±2.84)mm,t=23.255,P<0.001]and brainstem diameter[(0.80±0.63)mm vs.(1.98±1.63)mm,t=7.092,P<0.001],compared with ssEPI sequence.However,no statistically significant differences were observed in signal-to-noise ratio or contrast-to-noise ratio between the two sequences(P=0.848,0.638).Notably,msEPI sequences exhibited significantly enhanced lesion-normal tissue contrast compared with ssEPI sequences[221(131,311)vs.150(90,240),Z=3.89,P<0.001].Conclusion At 5.0T MRI,msEPI demonstrated superior image quality and diagnostic performance for craniocerebral diseases compared to ssEPI DWI sequences.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the mechanism of mechanical ventilation (MV) induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) promoting mechanical ventilation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (MVPF), and to clarify the role of angiotensin receptor 1 (AT1R) during the process. METHODS: The C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: Sham group, MV group, AT1R-shRNA group and MV+AT1R-shRNA group, with 6 mice in each group. The MV group and MV+AT1R-shRNA group mechanically ventilated for 2 hours after endotracheal intubation to establish MVPF animal model (parameter settings: respiratory rate 70 times/minutes, tidal volume 20 mL/kg, inhated oxygen concentration 0.21). The Sham group and AT1R-shRNA group only underwent intubation after anesthesia and maintained spontaneous breathing. AT1R-shRNA group and MV+AT1R-shRNA group were airway injected with the adeno-associated virus one month before modeling to inhibit AT1R gene expression in lung tissue. The expressions of AT1R, ERS signature proteins [immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein (BIP), protein disulfide isomerase (PDI)], fibrosis signature proteins [collagen I (COL1A1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)] in lung tissues were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate lung injury and Masson staining was used to evaluate pulmonary fibrosis. RESULTS: Compared with the Sham group, the degree of pulmonary fibrosis and lung injury were more significant in the MV group. In the MV group, the protein expressions of AT1R, BIP, PDI, COL1A1 and α-SMA were increased (AT1R/β-actin: 1.40±0.02 vs. 1, BIP/β-actin: 2.79±0.07 vs. 1, PDI/β-actin: 2.07±0.02 vs. 1, COL1A1/α-Tubulin: 2.60±0.15 vs. 1, α-SMA/α-Tubulin: 2.80±0.25 vs. 1, all P < 0.01). The number of E-cad⁺/AT1R⁺ and E-cad⁺/BIP⁺ cells in lung tissue increased, and the fluorescence intensity of COL1A1 and α-SMA increased. Compared with the MV group, the degree of pulmonary fibrosis and lung injury were significantly relieved in the MV+AT1R-shRNA group. In the MV+AT1R-shRNA group, the protein expressions of AT1R, BIP, PDI, COL1A1 and α-SMA were decreased (AT1R/β-actin: 0.53±0.03 vs. 1.40±0.02, BIP/β-actin: 1.73±0.15 vs. 2.79±0.07, PDI/β-actin: 1.04±0.07 vs. 2.07±0.02, COL1A1/α-Tubulin: 1.29±0.11 vs. 2.60±0.15, α-SMA/α-Tubulin: 1.27±0.10 vs. 2.80±0.25, all P < 0.01). The number of E-cad⁺/AT1R⁺ and E-cad⁺/BIP⁺ cells in lung tissue decreased, and the fluorescence intensity of COL1A1 and α-SMA decreased. There was no statistically significant difference in the indicators between AT1R-shRNA group and Sham group. CONCLUSIONS MV up-regulate the expression of AT1R in alveolar epithelial cells, activate the AT1R pathway, induce ERS and promote the progression of MVPF.
Mice ; Animals ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced* ; Lung Injury ; Respiration, Artificial/adverse effects* ; Actins/metabolism* ; Tubulin ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; RNA, Small Interfering

COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Phosphoproteins ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To observe the effect of gait training assisted by an end-effector-based robot on the gait, balance, walking and general lower limb motor functioning of stroke survivors.Methods:Thirty-nine stroke survivors were randomized into a training group ( n=21) and a control group ( n=18). In addition to routine hemiplegia rehabilitation, the control group was given medium frequency electrical stimulation while the training group underwent 20 minutes of gait training assisted by an end-effector-based robot six days a week for 4 weeks. Before and after the intervention, both groups were evaluated using the functional ambulatory categories (FAC), the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment, the Wisconsin Gait Scale and the Berg balance scale (BBS). Results:There were no significant differences between the groups before the intervention. Afterward significant improvement was observed in both groups in all measurements, with the training group scored better in terms of FAC and BBS.Conclusion:Using an end-effector-based robot in gait training might be more advantageous for improving the gait, balance, walking and general lower limb functioning of stroke survivors.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy ofXing Nao Kai Qiao (brain awakening and orifice opening) Needling plus mountain-burning fire manipulation in treating post-stroke limb numbness.Method Eighty patients with post-stroke limb numbness were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened byXing Nao Kai Qiao needling plus mountain-burning fire manipulation, while the control group was byXing Nao Kai Qiao needling alone. The sensory function and motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment, FMA), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Barthel Index (BI) were observed before and after intervention.Result The component scores of FMA (motor function, sensory function, range of motion, and joint pain intensity), NIHSS scores, and BI scores were significantly changed respectively after 1 and 2 treatment courses in both groups (P<0.05). The component scores of FMA, NIHSS scores, and BI scores after 2 treatment course were significantly different from that after 1 treatment course in both groups (P<0.05). After 2 treatment courses, the sensory function score, joint pain intensity in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionXing Nao Kai Qiaoneedling plus mountain-burning fire manipulation is an effective method in treating post-stroke limb numbness.