Aim To explore the impacts of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on the phenotypes, endocy-tosis and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/ Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK)/P38 mitogen-ac-tivated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in indoxyl sulfate (IS) -induced dendritic cells (DCs). Methods After treatment with 30, 300 and 600 (xmol · L

Objective To observe the value of semi-quantitative parameters related to gated myocardial perfusion imaging(G-MPI)for predicting occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods Totally 148 CKD patients who underwent rest G-MPI(R-GMPI)(R-GMPI group,n=95)or stress/rest G-MPI(S/R-GMPI)(S/R-GMPI group,n=53)were retrospectively included.The patients were categorized into MACE subgroup and non-MACE subgroup according to MACE occurred or not during follow-up.Clinical data and G-MPI parameters were compared between subgroups,and independent predictors of MACE in CKD patients were obtained using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to assess the efficacy of each independent predictor for predicting MACE.Among patients who underwent only R-GMPI,the optimal cut-off value of each parameter for predicting MACE was obtained by ROC curve analysis,and the risk of MACE was stratified,then Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn and compared with log-rank test.Results Among 95 patients who underwent only R-GMPI,compared with non-MACE subgroup,those in MACE subgroup had smaller body mass index(BMI)and higher proportion of previous myocardial infarction and hemodialysis,as well as higher R-GMPI left ventricle end-diastolic volume(R-LVEDV),left ventricle end-systolic volume(R-LVESV),sum rest score(R-SRS)but lower left ventricle ejection fraction(R-LVEF)(all P＜0.05),while R-SRS(HR=1.068,95％CI[1.027,1.110])and R-LVESV(HR=1.011,95％CI[1.005,1.017])were both independent predictors for MACE(both P＜0.05).Among 53 patients who underwent S/R-GMPI,compared with non-MACE subgroup,those in MACE subgroup had with higher blood creatinine and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),higher S-LVESV,R-LVEDV,sum stress score(SSS),SRS and sum difference score(SDS)(all P＜0.05),and SDS(HR=1.454,95％CI[1.063,1.989])was an independent predictor for MACE(P＜0.05).Among 95 CKD patients who underwent only R-GMPI,AUC of R-SRS and R-LVESV alone for predicting MACE was 0.659 and 0.694,respectively,and higher incidence of MACE was found in those w ith R-SRS ≥8 points,also in those with R-LVESV ≥91 ml(both P＜0.05).Conclusion G-MPI could be used to evaluate myocardial perfusion and function in CKD patients.For CKD patients just underwent only R-GMPI,R-SRS and R-LVESV were independent predictors for MACE,whereas SDS might be utilized to predict MACE in CKD patients who could undergo S/R-GMPI.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of stress+ rest gated myocardial perfusion imaging (G-MPI) in assessing all-cause mortality risk in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).Methods:From June 2010 to March 2022, 72 patients (39 males, 33 females; age (21.1±12.3) years) who diagnosed with FH clinically and genetically and underwent stress+ rest G-MPI in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively followed up. Image analysis was performed using the 17-segment 5-point method to obtain left ventricular myocardial perfusion and functional parameters. Patients were followed for all-cause mortality events, and predictors associated with the risk of all-cause mortality were analyzed using Cox regression. The efficiencies of predictors were evaluated by ROC curve analysis, and the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the differences in the incidence of all-cause mortality in different groups of patients with FH. Independent-sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the data. Results:The follow-up time of 72 patients was 7(4, 10) years, and all-cause death occurred in 16(22.2%) patients during the follow-up period. There were statistically significant differences in total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), summed stress score (SSS), summed rest score (SRS), summed difference score (SDS), stress end-systolic volume (SESV), stress ejection fraction (SEF), rest end-diastolic volume (REDV), rest end-systolic volume (RESV) and rest ejection fraction (REF) between the death group and the survival group ( t values: from -2.65 to 4.47, z values: from -3.43 to -1.98, all P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that SDS (hazard ratio ( HR)=1.337, 95% CI: 1.114-1.604, P=0.002), SESV ( HR=1.019, 95% CI: 1.008-1.030, P<0.001) and LDLC ( HR=1.355, 95% CI: 1.049-1.749, P=0.020) were independent predictors associated with the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with FH. The optimal cut-off value of SESV for predicting mortality in patients with FH determined by ROC curve analysis was 35.5 ml, with the AUC of 0.701 (95% CI: 0.517-0.885). The incidence of all-cause mortality in the group with SESV≥35.5 ml was significantly higher than that in the group with SESV<35.5 ml (28.6% vs 6.9%; χ2=5.15, P=0.023). Conclusion:Stress+ rest G-MPI is an important imaging method for all-cause mortality risk assessment in patients with FH, and SDS, SESV and LDLC are important factors in predicting mortality in patients with FH.

Mechanical allodynia (MA), including punctate and dynamic forms, is a common and debilitating symptom suffered by millions of chronic pain patients. Some peripheral injuries result in the development of bilateral MA, while most injuries usually led to unilateral MA. To date, the control of such laterality remains poorly understood. Here, to study the role of microglia in the control of MA laterality, we used genetic strategies to deplete microglia and tested both dynamic and punctate forms of MA in mice. Surprisingly, the depletion of central microglia did not prevent the induction of bilateral dynamic and punctate MA. Moreover, in dorsal root ganglion-dorsal root-sagittal spinal cord slice preparations we recorded the low-threshold Aβ-fiber stimulation-evoked inputs and outputs of superficial dorsal horn neurons. Consistent with behavioral results, microglial depletion did not prevent the opening of bilateral gates for Aβ pathways in the superficial dorsal horn. This study challenges the role of microglia in the control of MA laterality in mice. Future studies are needed to further understand whether the role of microglia in the control of MA laterality is etiology-or species-specific.
Mice ; Animals ; Hyperalgesia/metabolism* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Spinal Cord/metabolism* ; Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn/metabolism* ; Ganglia, Spinal/metabolism*

Humans ; Consensus ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy* ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/therapy*

Objective:To establish the normal reference value of left ventricular function parameters by cadmium-zinc-tellurium (CZT) SPECT stress gated myocardial perfusion imaging (G-MPI) in low-likelihood of stable coronary artery disease (SCAD).Methods:From March 2022 to August 2022, 348 consecutive SCAD patients (146 males, 202 females, age (58±10) years) who underwent exercise or pharmacological stress G-MPI (CZT SPECT) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively recruited. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were acquired using quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) analysis. EDV and ESV were corrected by body surface area (BSA) to obtain EDV index (EDVI) and ESV index (ESVI), respectively. Independent-sample t test, one-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney U test were used for data analysis. The influences of EDV, ESV, EDVI, ESVI and LVEF were analyzed by multiple regressions for linear models. Results:There were 314 patients with low-likelihood of SCAD (128 males, 186 females, age (58±10) years) and 34 normal controls (18 males, 16 females, age (55±10) years). There were no significant differences of basic clinical characteristics and left ventricular function parameters in different genders between 2 groups ( z values: from -1.74 to -0.02, t values: from -1.16 to 1.17, all P>0.05). Using the 95% CI as the cut-off value for left ventricular function parameters in patients with a low-likelihood of SCAD, the upper limits of EDV, ESV, EDVI and ESVI in females and males were 84 and 111 ml, 30 and 44 ml, 47 and 54 ml/m 2, 17 and 21 ml/m 2, respectively, and the lower limit of LVEF in females and males were 58% and 55%, respectively. In the low-likelihood of SCAD group, the EDV ((58±13) vs (77±17) ml) and ESV ((16±7) vs (26±9) ml) of females were smaller than those of males ( t values: 10.65, 10.35, both P<0.001), while LVEF of females was higher than that of males ((72±7)% vs (67±6)%; t=-6.23, P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in left ventricular function parameters among different age groups with the same gender ( F values: 0.12-2.19, all P>0.05). Based on multiple regression for linear models, the primary predictors of EDV, ESV and LVEF were gender and weight ( β values: from -0.380 to 0.358, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Normal reference values of left ventricular function parameters are established by CZT SPECT stress G-MPI in low-likelihood of SCAD patients. Left ventricular EDV and ESV of females are smaller than those of males, while LVEF of females is higher than that of males. The influence of gender on left ventricular function parameters should be considered in clinical practice.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reserve assessed by gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT G-MPI) for major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. From January 2017 to December 2019, patients with coronary artery disease and confirmed myocardial ischemia by stress and rest SPECT G-MPI, and underwent coronary angiography within 3 months were enrolled. The sum stress score (SSS) and sum resting score (SRS) were analyzed by the standard 17-segment model, and the sum difference score (SDS, SDS=SSS-SRS) was calculated. The LVEF at stress and rest were analyzed by 4DM software. The LVEF reserve (ΔLVEF) was calculated (ΔLVEF=stress LVEF-rest LVEF). The primary endpoint was MACE, which was obtained by reviewing the medical record system or by telephone follow-up once every twelve months. Patients were divided into MACE-free and MACE groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between ΔLVEF and all MPI parameters. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the independent factors of MACE, and the optimal SDS cutoff value for predicting MACE was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to compare the difference in the incidence of MACE between different SDS groups and different ΔLVEF groups. Results: A total of 164 patients with coronary artery disease [120 male; age (58.6±10.7) years] were included. The average follow-up time was (26.5±10.4) months, and a total of 30 MACE were recorded during follow-up. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that SDS (HR=1.069, 95%CI: 1.005-1.137, P=0.035) and ΔLVEF (HR=0.935, 95%CI: 0.878-0.995, P=0.034) were independent predictors of MACE. According to ROC curve analysis, the optimal cut-off to predict MACE was a SDS of 5.5 with an area under the curve of 0.63 (P=0.022). Survival analysis showed that the incidence of MACE was significantly higher in the SDS≥5.5 group than in the SDS<5.5 group (27.6% vs. 13.2%, P=0.019), but the incidence of MACE was significantly lower in the ΔLVEF≥0 group than in theΔLVEF<0 group (11.0% vs. 25.6%, P=0.022). Conclusions: LVEF reserve (ΔLVEF) assessed by SPECT G-MPI serves as an independent protective factor for MACE, while SDS is an independent risk predictor in patients with coronary artery disease. SPECT G-MPI is valuable for risk stratification by assessing myocardial ischemia and LVEF.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Stroke Volume ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Myocardial Ischemia

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of 18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT dual-time-point imaging (DTPI) in the diagnosis of aortic grafts infection (AGI). Methods:Forty-two patients with suspected AGI were prospectively recruited in this DTPI study from October 2014 to October 2021. There were 35(83%) males and 7 females, mean age (54±15) years old, range 22-79 years old. PET/CT image quality was scored as 5 grading scale. Semi-quantitative analysis of DTPI data was performed using maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of suspected AGI lesions. The percentage of SUVmax change between initial and delayed images were recorded as retention index (RI). Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration (MAGIC) criteria were used as the diagnostic reference criteria for AGI.Results:According to the MAGIC criteria, 27 patients (64%) were positive for AGI, and 15 patients (36%) were negative. The mean RI of AGI was higher than that of non-AGI ones[(26.7±18.9)% vs. (6.4 ±18.8)%, P<0.01]. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of initial SUVmax ≥6 with the presence of AGI was 88.9%, 73.3%, and 83.3%, respectively. Delayed SUVmax ≥6 improved the sensitivity (96.3%) and accuracy (88.1%) for diagnosing AGI. DTPI with 15% increment as the optimal cut-off value of RI improved the specificity (93.3%) and accuracy (90.5%) for diagnosing AGI. Fifteen (56%, 15/27) AGI patients had improved image quality grading on the delayed images, leading to more accurately delineating the detailed extent of the infected aortic graft. Conclusion:18F-FDG PET/CT DTPI has better diagnostic performance for AGI than conventional Single-time-point PET/CT imaging by improving image quality as well as enhancing delineation of infected aortic graft extent.

Aim To investigate the effects of Evodiamine (EVO) on proliferation and apoptosis of human leukemia cell line K562 and its potential mechanisms. Methods K562 cells were treated with EVO at different concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 jxmol • L