Purpose: There is still insufficient evidence for predicting stroke risk in patients with mild carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. This study aimed to explore the association between carotid intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) in mild stenosis and ischemic stroke, using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 369 patients from July 2021 to March 2022. These patients were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic based on their recent history of ipsilateral ischemic stroke. Initial parameters of carotid plaques, such as IPN grading and contrast enhancement index, were assessed using B-mode ultrasonography and CEUS. The follow-up period lasted 12 months or until a newly-developed ischemic stroke occurred. Logistic regression models and Cox proportional-hazards regression models were employed to explore the associations between ultrasonic parameters and the incidence of recent and future ischemic strokes. Results: In patients with mild stenosis, both increasing age and grade 2 carotid IPN were significant predictors of recent primary ischemic stroke. Furthermore, grade 2 carotid IPN independently predicted future ischemic strokes in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Conclusion This study demonstrated that carotid IPN as detected by CEUS imaging holds potential as a useful non-invasive biomarker for predicting recent and future ischemic strokes in patients with mild carotid stenosis.

[摘 要] 目的：评估放疗作为原位疫苗的联合治疗模式在晚期软组织肉瘤（STS）患者中的有效性和安全性。方法：回顾性分析2020年12月至2024年9月期间在南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院肿瘤中心接受联合治疗模式的12例晚期STS患者的临床资料。12例患者均接受了联合治疗。放疗主要以大分割为主。靶向治疗：安罗替尼10例、阿帕替尼2例。免疫治疗以PD-1抗体为主。主要研究终点为疾病控制率（DCR），次要研究终点为客观有效率（ORR）及安全性。结果：接受联合治疗的12例STS患者中有0例CR，4例PR，7例SD，1例PD。ORR为33%，DCR为91.7%，其中靶病灶的DCR为100%。12例患者中，9例出现Ⅰ~Ⅱ级不良反应。最常发生的血液学不良反应是贫血（6例）、肝功能检查结果异常（3例）。最常发生的非血液学不良反应是尿蛋白（5例）、高血压（4例）、甲状腺功能异常（3例）、厌食（3例）、恶心呕吐（2例）；仅2例发生Ⅲ级血液毒性，有1例发生Ⅲ级气胸。结论：放疗作为原位疫苗的联合治疗模式在晚期STS患者中展现出较高的DCR，且未出现严重不良反应。该联合治疗模式具有良好的有效性与安全性。

Purpose: There is still insufficient evidence for predicting stroke risk in patients with mild carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. This study aimed to explore the association between carotid intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) in mild stenosis and ischemic stroke, using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 369 patients from July 2021 to March 2022. These patients were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic based on their recent history of ipsilateral ischemic stroke. Initial parameters of carotid plaques, such as IPN grading and contrast enhancement index, were assessed using B-mode ultrasonography and CEUS. The follow-up period lasted 12 months or until a newly-developed ischemic stroke occurred. Logistic regression models and Cox proportional-hazards regression models were employed to explore the associations between ultrasonic parameters and the incidence of recent and future ischemic strokes. Results: In patients with mild stenosis, both increasing age and grade 2 carotid IPN were significant predictors of recent primary ischemic stroke. Furthermore, grade 2 carotid IPN independently predicted future ischemic strokes in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Conclusion This study demonstrated that carotid IPN as detected by CEUS imaging holds potential as a useful non-invasive biomarker for predicting recent and future ischemic strokes in patients with mild carotid stenosis.

Purpose: There is still insufficient evidence for predicting stroke risk in patients with mild carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. This study aimed to explore the association between carotid intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) in mild stenosis and ischemic stroke, using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 369 patients from July 2021 to March 2022. These patients were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic based on their recent history of ipsilateral ischemic stroke. Initial parameters of carotid plaques, such as IPN grading and contrast enhancement index, were assessed using B-mode ultrasonography and CEUS. The follow-up period lasted 12 months or until a newly-developed ischemic stroke occurred. Logistic regression models and Cox proportional-hazards regression models were employed to explore the associations between ultrasonic parameters and the incidence of recent and future ischemic strokes. Results: In patients with mild stenosis, both increasing age and grade 2 carotid IPN were significant predictors of recent primary ischemic stroke. Furthermore, grade 2 carotid IPN independently predicted future ischemic strokes in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Conclusion This study demonstrated that carotid IPN as detected by CEUS imaging holds potential as a useful non-invasive biomarker for predicting recent and future ischemic strokes in patients with mild carotid stenosis.

Purpose: There is still insufficient evidence for predicting stroke risk in patients with mild carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. This study aimed to explore the association between carotid intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) in mild stenosis and ischemic stroke, using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 369 patients from July 2021 to March 2022. These patients were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic based on their recent history of ipsilateral ischemic stroke. Initial parameters of carotid plaques, such as IPN grading and contrast enhancement index, were assessed using B-mode ultrasonography and CEUS. The follow-up period lasted 12 months or until a newly-developed ischemic stroke occurred. Logistic regression models and Cox proportional-hazards regression models were employed to explore the associations between ultrasonic parameters and the incidence of recent and future ischemic strokes. Results: In patients with mild stenosis, both increasing age and grade 2 carotid IPN were significant predictors of recent primary ischemic stroke. Furthermore, grade 2 carotid IPN independently predicted future ischemic strokes in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Conclusion This study demonstrated that carotid IPN as detected by CEUS imaging holds potential as a useful non-invasive biomarker for predicting recent and future ischemic strokes in patients with mild carotid stenosis.

Purpose: There is still insufficient evidence for predicting stroke risk in patients with mild carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. This study aimed to explore the association between carotid intraplaque neovascularization (IPN) in mild stenosis and ischemic stroke, using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 369 patients from July 2021 to March 2022. These patients were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic based on their recent history of ipsilateral ischemic stroke. Initial parameters of carotid plaques, such as IPN grading and contrast enhancement index, were assessed using B-mode ultrasonography and CEUS. The follow-up period lasted 12 months or until a newly-developed ischemic stroke occurred. Logistic regression models and Cox proportional-hazards regression models were employed to explore the associations between ultrasonic parameters and the incidence of recent and future ischemic strokes. Results: In patients with mild stenosis, both increasing age and grade 2 carotid IPN were significant predictors of recent primary ischemic stroke. Furthermore, grade 2 carotid IPN independently predicted future ischemic strokes in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Conclusion This study demonstrated that carotid IPN as detected by CEUS imaging holds potential as a useful non-invasive biomarker for predicting recent and future ischemic strokes in patients with mild carotid stenosis.

Objective: To investigate the second-hand smoke behavior at home among smokers, so as to provide the reference for developing home tobacco control strategies. Methods: Permanent residents who were smokers and at the ages of 15 years and above were sampled from 10 streets (townships) in Xuhui District, Shanghai Municipality using the multi-stage random sampling and population-size proportional sampling methods in 2022. Demographic information, smoking status, awareness of second-hand smoke hazards and second-hand smoke behavior at home were collected by questionnaire surveys. Factors affecting second-hand smoke behavior at home were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1 024 smokers were surveyed, including 769 males (75.10%) and 255 females (24.90%). The awareness of hazards of second-hand smoke was 33.59%; the awareness rate of second-hand smoke causing lung cancer in adults was the highest at 76.76%, while the awareness rate of second-hand smoke leading to premature birth and low birth weight in newborns was the lowest at 39.45%. There were 459 smokers with second-hand smoke behavior at home, accounting for 44.82%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that occupation (the retired, OR=2.320, 95%CI: 1.276-4.218), frequency of smoking (often, OR=5.722, 95%CI: 3.977-8.231), smoking duration (a year and above, OR=10.089, 95%CI: 5.508-18.480), electronic cigarette use (occasionally, OR=2.994, 95%CI: 1.283-6.986), living with pregnant women or infants (no, OR=2.171, 95%CI: 1.367-3.448), family indoor smoking restrictions (no restriction, OR=13.926, 95%CI: 7.538-25.727) and awareness of second-hand smoke hazards (unknown, OR=1.562, 95%CI: 1.067-2.287) were the influencing factors for second-hand smoke behavior at home. Conclusion There were 44.82% smokers in Xuhui District with second-hand smoke behavior at home, which was influenced by occupation, living situation, smoking status, family indoor smoking restriction and awareness of second-hand smoke hazards.

Purpose: This cross-sectional cohort-comparison observational study investigated the value of high-frame-rate vector flow (V Flow) imaging for evaluating differences in carotid plaque shape and biomechanical parameters in patients with mild stenosis according to a recent history of ipsilateral ischemic stroke. Methods: The present study included 352 patients from February 2023 to October 2023, who were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic based on a history of recent ischemic stroke and ipsilateral ischemic lesions detected on head computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. A Mindray Resona R9 system was used for B-mode ultrasonography and V Flow imaging. The upstream and downstream surfaces of the plaques were examined at the carotid bifurcation for wall shear stress (WSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), and turbulence index, which performed peri-plaque biomechanical condition. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine associations between plaque shape, V Flow parameters, and ischemic stroke. Results: Symptomatic patients exhibited higher WSS values for the upstream and downstream surfaces of carotid plaque, as well as higher OSI and turbulence index values for the downstream surface. Type Ⅲ plaques and higher WSS and OSI values for the downstream surface of the plaque were significantly associated with ischemic stroke. Type Ⅲ plaques were more prevalent in symptomatic patients and demonstrated much higher WSS and OSI values for the downstream plaque surface in both groups. Conclusion High-frame-rate V Flow imaging could assess peri-plaque biomechanical forces and may provide effective imaging biomarkers for early prediction of ischemic stroke in patients with mild stenosis.

Objective To investigate whether activation of mitochondrial acetal dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2)alleviates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by regulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old C57 BL/6 mice were randomized into control,hypoxia,and hypoxia+Alda-1(an ALDH2 activator)group(n=10),and the mice in the latter two groups,along with 10 ALDH2 knockout(ALDH2-/-)mice,were exposed to hypoxia(10%O2,90%N2)with or without daily intraperitoneal injection of Alda-1 for 4 weeks.The changes in right ventricular function and pressure(RVSP)of the mice were evaluated by echocardiography and right ventricular catheter test,and pulmonary artery pressure was estimated based on RVSP.Pulmonary vascular remodeling,right ventricular injury,myocardial α-SMA expression,distal pulmonary arteriole muscle normalization,right ventricular cross-sectional area,myocardial cell hypertrophy,and right cardiac hypertrophy index were assessed with HE staining,immunofluorescence staining and WGA staining,and the expressions of ALDH2,SIRT1,PGC-1α,P16INK4A and P21CIP1 were detected.In pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells with hypoxic exposure,the effect of Alda-1 and EX527 on cell senescence and protein expressions was evaluated using β-galactose staining and Western blotting.Results The wild-type mice with hypoxic exposure showed significantly increased RVSP,right ventricular free wall thickness and myocardial expressions of P16INK4A and P21CIP1,which were effectively lowered by treatment with Alda-1 but further increased in ALDH2-/-mice.In cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells,hypoxic exposure significantly increased senescent cell percentage and cellular expressions of P16INK4A and P21CIP1,which were all lowered by treatment with Alda-1,but its effect was obviously attenuated by EX527 treatment.Conclusion ALDH2 alleviates hypoxia-induced senescence of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by upregulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway to alleviate pulmonary hypertension in mice.

Objective To investigate whether activation of mitochondrial acetal dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2)alleviates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by regulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old C57 BL/6 mice were randomized into control,hypoxia,and hypoxia+Alda-1(an ALDH2 activator)group(n=10),and the mice in the latter two groups,along with 10 ALDH2 knockout(ALDH2-/-)mice,were exposed to hypoxia(10%O2,90%N2)with or without daily intraperitoneal injection of Alda-1 for 4 weeks.The changes in right ventricular function and pressure(RVSP)of the mice were evaluated by echocardiography and right ventricular catheter test,and pulmonary artery pressure was estimated based on RVSP.Pulmonary vascular remodeling,right ventricular injury,myocardial α-SMA expression,distal pulmonary arteriole muscle normalization,right ventricular cross-sectional area,myocardial cell hypertrophy,and right cardiac hypertrophy index were assessed with HE staining,immunofluorescence staining and WGA staining,and the expressions of ALDH2,SIRT1,PGC-1α,P16INK4A and P21CIP1 were detected.In pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells with hypoxic exposure,the effect of Alda-1 and EX527 on cell senescence and protein expressions was evaluated using β-galactose staining and Western blotting.Results The wild-type mice with hypoxic exposure showed significantly increased RVSP,right ventricular free wall thickness and myocardial expressions of P16INK4A and P21CIP1,which were effectively lowered by treatment with Alda-1 but further increased in ALDH2-/-mice.In cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells,hypoxic exposure significantly increased senescent cell percentage and cellular expressions of P16INK4A and P21CIP1,which were all lowered by treatment with Alda-1,but its effect was obviously attenuated by EX527 treatment.Conclusion ALDH2 alleviates hypoxia-induced senescence of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by upregulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway to alleviate pulmonary hypertension in mice.