The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has recently been proposed as a key player in the representation of itch stimuli. However, to date, little is known about the contribution of specific ACC interneuron populations to itch processing. Using c-Fos immunolabeling and in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging, we reported that both histamine and chloroquine stimuli-induced acute itch caused a marked enhancement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing interneuron activity in the ACC. Behavioral data indicated that optogenetic and chemogenetic activation of these neurons reduced scratching responses related to histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Similar neural activity and modulatory role of these neurons were seen in mice with chronic itch induced by contact dermatitis. Together, this study highlights the importance of ACC VIP⁺ neurons in modulating itch-related affect and behavior, which may help us to develop novel mechanism-based strategies to treat refractory chronic itch in the clinic.
Animals ; Pruritus/physiopathology* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism* ; Interneurons/metabolism* ; Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Histamine ; Chloroquine ; Optogenetics ; Mice, Transgenic

Objective To explore the classic MRI appearance of secondary hemochromatosis (SHC)related liver iron overload, and the feasibility of quantitative evaluation of liver iron overload by iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and leastGsquares estimationGiron quantification (IDEALGIQ).Methods 20 patients with SHCGrelated liver iron overload (experimental group)and 20 healthy adults (control group)underwent routine liver MRI and IDEALGIQ.The MRI images were comparatively analyzed to assess the hallmark of liver iron overload.In both two groups,the R2 ? values were measured on R2 ? maps,which were generated by IDEALGIQ,then the differences in age,gender and R2 ? value between two groups were comparatively analyzed.In experimental group,the serum ferritin (SF)was detected,and a correlation analysis was tested with R2 ? value.Results For all of the 20 patients, there was signal drop of liver parenchyma on T1 and T2 Gweighted images,signal loss with susceptibility artifact on DWI images,and signal dropped on inGphase images relative to outGofGphase images.Among the 20 patients,18 cases appeared "a dark liver parenchyma"on T2 G weighted images,and the spleen signal in 3 cases was similar to liver parenchyma’s hallmark.The R2 ? values in experimental group and control group were 395.58±255.75 Hz and 41.18±7.86 Hz (t＝－6.12,P＝0.00),respectively.No significant differences between two groups were found in gender and age (χ2＝0.10,P＝0.10 and t＝0.09,P＝0.93).The liver iron overload R2? value was not correlated with SF (r＝0.1 5 3 , P＝0.15).Conclusion On MRI,the typical appearance of liver iron overload is hypointense on T1 and T2Gweighted images,especially"a dark liver parenchyma"on T2 WI,signal drops on inGphase images relative to outGofGphase images,and signal loss with susceptibility artifact on DWI images.R2 ? value of IDEALGIQ can quantitatively evaluate the liver iron overload,without a correlation with SF.

Objective To evaluate the value of 3.0T MRI diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)in diagnosis and staging of cervical cancer. Methods A total of 65 cervical carcinoma patients were enrolled and performed T2 WI,DWI and LAVA-Flex dynamic contrast-enhancement before operation.MR images were analyzed by two radiologists to evaluate the staging performance.Results All the cervical cancers were detected in DWI,while three lesions were missed in T2 WI and one lesion was missed in LAVA-Flex dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.Respectively,the accuracy of staging with DWI,T2 WI and LAVA-Flex dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was 90.8%,78.5%and 87.7%.Accuracy of DWI was significantly higher than that of T2 WI(P =0.04),while there was no significant difference of accuracy between DWI and LAVA-Flex dynamic contrast-enhanced sequence (P =0.39).Conclusion DWI shows relatively higher accuracy than T2 WI in the staging of cervical cancer which makes it an ideal method to replace LAVA-Flex dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for exact staging.

Background and purpose:It is increasingly focused on that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4) effect cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of tumor cells, and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPPA) plays an important role in IGF-1-dependent IGFBP-4 protease mechanism that regulats tumor cells' growth. This study aimed to investigate the serum levels and clinical signiifcance of IGF-1, IGFBP-4, and PAPPA in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:IGF-1, IGFBP-4, and PAPPA plasma levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from 82 patients with NSCLC and 40 control subjects, then the correlations between variables were assessed by Spearman correlation analysis, and associations between the IGFs variables and lung cancer risk were calculated through the odds ratio (OR) and its 95%conifdence interval (CI) with the use of unconditional logistic regression analysis. Results:Serum levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-4 and PAPPA in NSCLC patients were signiifcantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). There was a signiifcant positive correlation between the serum IGF-1 levels and PAPPA levels (r=0.835,P=0.000), and a negative correlation with IGFBP-4 levels (r=-0.612,P=0.000). IGFBP-4 and PAPPA levels were negatively correlated(r=-0.673, P=0.000). High plasma levels of IGF-1(OR=2.28, 95%CI: 1.25-4.36,P=0.008) and PAPPA (OR=1.64, 95%CI: 0.89-3.01,P=0.046)were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, however high plasma levels of IGFBP-4(OR=0.54, 95%CI:0.30-1.01,P=0.047)were associated with reduced risk of lung cancer. Conclusion:To detect IGF-1, IGFBP-4 and PAPPA in serum in NSCLC patients is meaningful for the clinical auxiliary diagnosis and biology behavior prediction of NSCLC. And further study of signal transduction pathways of IGFs with the occurrence and development of NSCLC is a meaningful research direction.

Purpose To explore the clinical value of ultrasound in charactering brain anomalies in open spina bifida at 11-13+6 weeks of gestation.Materials and Methods Abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound was performed in 125 cases of normal fetus and 4 cases of confirmed open spina bifida at 11-13+6 weeks of gestation to compare the morphology of intracranial translucency (IT), diencephalon and midbrain.Results Fetal IT was readily recognized in all 125 normal cases, with diencephalons and midbrain showing number 8 shape. In 4 cases of open spina bifida, fetal IT cannot be identified, and the expected 8 shape of diencephalon and midbrain was distorted.Conclusion Fetal brain characteristics including intracranial translucency and the shape of diencephalon and midbrain in 11-13+6 weeks gestation are valuable ultrasound screening indicators for open spina bifida.