ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yishen Tongluo prescription （YSTLP） on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells and explore the mechanism based on endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway of protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （PERK）/activating transcription factor 4 （ATF4）/transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein （CHOP）. MethodThe db/db mice were randomly divided into model group， valsartan group （10 mg·kg^-1）， and low， middle， high-dose YSTLP groups （1， 2.5， 5 g·kg^-1）. Samples were collected after eight weeks of drug intervention. In addition， db/m mice in the same litter served as the control group. Human renal tubular epithelial cells （HK-2） were cultured in vitro and divided into the control group， advanced glycated end-product （AGE） group， and AGE + low， middle， and high-dose YSTLP groups （100， 200， 400 mg·L^-1）. TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） staining was used to detect the apoptosis rate of HK-2 cells. Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay was conducted to detect the viability of HK-2 cells. Calcium fluorescence probe staining and luciferase reporter gene method were adopted to detect the luciferase activity of folded protein response element （UPRE） and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Immunohistochemical （IHC） analysis was carried out to measure the protein expressions of phosphorylated PKR （p-PERK）， CHOP， and ATF4. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of CHOP and X-box binding protein 1 （XBP1） in mouse kidney and HK-2 cells. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression level of p-PERK， PERK， CHOP， ATF4， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， and cleaved Caspase-3 in mouse kidney and HK-2 cells. ResultIn the cellular assay， HK-2 cell viability was significantly reduced， and the apoptosis rate was elevated in the AGE group compared with the control group （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression levels of apoptosis-related factor Bcl-2 were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， and those of Bax were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The protein expression level of cleaved Caspase-3 was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the AGE group， YSTLP administration treatment resulted in elevated cell viability and reduced apoptosis rate （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl-2 were significantly elevated in a time- and dose-dependent manner （P<0.01）， and those of Bax were significantly reduced in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The protein expression level of cleaved Caspase-3 was significantly reduced in a time- and dose-dependent manner （P<0.01）. The intracellular Ca²⁺ imbalance and UPRE luciferase fluorescence intensity were increased in the AGE group compared with the control group （P<0.01）. The mRNA levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related factors CHOP and XBP1 were significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of p-PERK， CHOP， and ATF4 were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the AGE group， YSTLP effectively improved intracellular Ca²⁺ imbalance in HK-2 cells and decreased UPRE luciferase fluorescence intensity in a dose-dependent manner （P<0.01）. It reduced the mRNA levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related factors CHOP and XBP1 （P<0.01） and the protein expression levels of intracellular p-PERK， CHOP， and ATF4 in a dose- and time-dependent manner （P<0.01）. In animal experiments， the protein expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly reduced（P<0.01）， and that of cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax was significantly increased in the model group compared with the control group （P<0.05）. The protein expression level of Bcl-2 was dose-dependently elevated， and that of cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax was dose-dependently decreased in the YSTLP groups compared with the model group （P<0.01）. Compared with the control group， the mRNA expression levels of CHOP and XBP1 were significantly elevated in the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the protein expression levels of p-PERK， CHOP， and ATF4 were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， YSTLP significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of CHOP and XBP1 （P<0.01） and the protein expression levels of p-PERK， CHOP， and ATF4 （P<0.01）. ConclusionYSTLP can effectively inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress and improve apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells， and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the PERK/AFT4/CHOP pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Tangzhi pills on the improvement of insulin resistance （IR） in the liver with type 2 diabetes （T2DM） by regulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway based on differential genes and its possible molecular mechanism. MethodT2DM rat models were prepared by high fat （HFD） diet combined with streptozotocin （STZ） intraperitoneal injection. The experiment was divided into blank group， model group， metformin hydrochloride group （0.18 g·kg^-1）， Tangzhi pills high （1.08 g·kg^-1）， medium （0.54 g·kg^-1） and low （0.27 g·kg^-1） dose groups. Rat serum， liver， and pancreatic tissue were collected， and the pathological tissue of the liver and pancreas was observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The fasting blood glucose level （FBG） was detected， and oral glucose tolerance （OGTT） tests were conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect fasting serum insulin （FINS） and glycated hemoglobin （GHb） levels in rats. IR homeostasis model index （HOMA-IR）， β cellular homeostasis index （HOMA-β）， and insulin sensitivity index （ISI） were calculated. Biochemical methods were used to determine the levels of triglyceride （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein （HDL-C） in rat serum. Transcriptomics obtained differentially expressed mRNA from liver tissue and enriched differentially expressed pathways. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of cyclic adenylate responsive element binding protein 3-like protein 2 antibody （CREB3l2）， B-lymphocyte tumor 2 （Bcl-2）， Toll-like receptor 2 （TLR2）， cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A （CDNK1A）， and DNA damage induced transcription factor 4-like protein （DDIT4） in liver tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （p-PI3K）， phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-Akt）， glucose transporter 4 （GLUT4）， insulin receptor （INSR）， and insulin receptor substrate 2 （IRS2）. ResultThe pharmacodynamic experiment results showed that compared with model group， Tangzhi pills groups repaired liver and pancreatic tissue to varying degrees， reduced blood sugar （P<0.01）， and promoted a decrease in serum FINS， GHb， and HOMA-IR （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， HOMA-β and ISI increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of TC， TG， and LDL-C decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the levels of HDL-C increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The transcriptomics experimental results confirmed that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was significantly expressed in both the blank group and model group， as well as in the high-dose Tangzhi pills group and model group. CDNK1A， DDIT4， CREB3l2， Bcl-2， and TLR2 were significantly differentially expressed mRNA during TG intervention in T2DM. Compared with the model group， the protein expression of p-PI3K， p-Akt， GLUT4， INSR， and IRS2 increased in all Tangzhi pills groups （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of CREB3l2， Bcl-2， and TLR2 increased （P<0.01）， while that of CDNK1A and DDIT4 decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionTangzhi pills may regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway based on the differential mRNA expression of CREB3l2， Bcl-2， TLR2， CDNK1A， and DDIT4， thereby improving IR in the liver with T2DM.

AIM:To investigate whether crocin alleviates right ventricular injury induced by monocrotaline(MCT)in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),and to explore the underlying mechanisms.METHODS:Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group,PAH group,crocin group and sildenafil group,with 10 rats in each group.The rats in PAH,crocin and sildenafil groups received subcutaneous injection of MCT(50 mg/kg)to establish the PAH model.Starting from the day of MCT injection,the rats in crocin group received crocin(200 mg/kg),the rats in sildenafil group received sildenafil(30 mg/kg),and those in PAH and normal groups were orally gavaged with an equal volume of saline once daily.After 4 weeks,measurements of right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP),mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP),right ventricular hypertrophy index(RVHI)and right ventricular mass index(RVMI)were taken for the rats in each group.Tissue staining was conducted to observe pathological changes in the right ventricle,and the expression levels of inflammatory factors(IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α),the p38 MAPK/NF-κB inflammato-ry pathway,CCL2,CCR2,and the macrophage marker CD68 were assessed.RESULTS:Compared with PAH group,the rats in crocin and sildenafil groups exhibited significant reductions in RVSP,mPAP,RVHI and RVMI(P＜0.05).Right ventricular tissue displayed no evident infiltration of inflammatory cells or proliferation of collagen fibers.The down-regulation of the p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway and inflammatory factors(IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α)was significant(P＜0.05).Additionally,the CCL2/CCR2 pathway and the infiltration of CD68+ macrophages were markedly decreased(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Crocin effectively mitigates right ventricular damage in MCT-induced PAH rats,with its effica-cy comparable to that of sildenafil at the dosage utilized in this experiment.Some protective mechanisms of crocin may be attributed to its regulatory effects on inflammation.

Diabetic nephropathy(DN)is one of the most serious microangiopathies in diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease.Ferroptosis,as a mode of programmed cell death,is mainly manifested by excessive accumulation of intracellular lipid peroxides and iron.Ferroptosis is involved in a series of pathological processes such as damage to DN renal podocytes,mesangial cells,and renal tubular epithelial cells.Chinese materia medica has the characteristics of significant therapeutic effects and minimal adverse reactions in the treatment of diseases,and has been widely used in the prevention and treatment of DN.This article summarized the key factors regulating ferroptosis in DN,as well as the active components and TCM formulas targeting the inhibition of ferroptosis in the prevention and treatment of DN,providing reference for the development of DN targeted drugs.

Objective:To discuss the relationship between 18F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters and clinical pathological indicators and prognosis in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). Methods:A total of 100 CMM patients (62 males, 38 females, age (56.5±2.5) years) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT scans at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from August 2013 to November 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical pathological indicators (such as primary site, TNM staging, sentinel lymph node (SLN) status) and metabolic parameters (SUV max, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), whole-body MTV (wb-MTV), and whole-body TLG (wb-TLG)) were collected. ROC curve analyses were used to determine the PET parameters thresholds for progression-free survival (PFS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the prognosis of patients′ PFS and MSS, and a nomogram survival prediction model was constructed. Results:Results of ROC curve analyses showed that the thresholds of SUV max of primary tumor (p-SUV max), MTV of primary tumor (p-MTV), TLG of primary tumor (p-TLG), wb-MTV and wb-TLG for predicting PFS and MSS were 7.13, 2.24 cm 3, 6.98 g, 2.57 cm 3, 8.04 g and 9.09, 2.34 cm 3, 7.44 g, 2.24 cm 3, 9.17 g, respectively. Results of univariate analysis indicated that several clinical pathological indicators and metabolic parameters were prognostic risk factors for PFS and MSS. Results of multivariate analysis indicated that metastases of SLN (hazard ratio( HR)=2.54, 95% CI: 1.09-5.90; P=0.030) and wb-TLG>8.04 g( HR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.17-5.72; P=0.019) were independent prognostic risk factors for PFS, while metastases of SLN ( HR=4.53, 95% CI: 1.54-13.35; P=0.006) and wb-TLG>9.17 g ( HR=2.48, 95% CI: 1.26-4.89; P=0.009) were independent risk prognostic factors for MSS. A nomogram survival prediction model based on PET metabolic parameter (wb-TLG) and clinical pathological indicator (SLN status) can effectively predict the prognosis of CMM patients. Conclusions:Clinical pathological parameters and PET parameters are associated with the prognosis of CMM patients. SLN status is critical for prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of 99Tc m-pyrophosphate (PYP) SPECT imaging for the differential diagnosis of transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods:Data of patients who were definitively diagnosed with ATTR-CA (35 patients (28 males, 7 females); age 62.5(58.6, 64.3) years) or HCM (14 patients (13 males, 1 female); age 60.5(57.3, 68.7) years) by extracardiac biopsy and echocardiography in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between June 2020 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent planar and SPECT imaging 1 h after injection of 370-720 MBq 99Tc m-PYP. Visual scoring was performed (0-1 was negative, 2-3 was positive), and heart-to-contralateral lung uptake ratio (H/CL) was calculated based on planar images. The χ2 test was used to compare the difference in visual scores between ATTR-CA and HCM groups, and the diagnostic efficacy of the visual score was calculated. The H/CL differences between ATTR and HCM groups were compared with Mann-Whitney U test, and the ROC curve was used to analyze the efficacy of H/CL for the differential diagnosis of ATTR-CA and HCM. Results:There were 34 patients with visual scores≥2 and 1 patient with visual score<2 in the ATTR-CA group, 6 patients with visual scores =2 and 8 patients with visual scores <2 in HCM group, and there were significant differences between the 2 groups ( χ2=16.20, P<0.001). The diagnostic sensitivity of the visual score was 97.1%(34/35), and the specificity was 8/14. The H/CL in the ATTR-CA group was significantly higher than that in the HCM group (2.08(1.97, 2.20) vs 1.26 (1.17, 1.35), z=-5.09, P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis suggested that the optimal cut-off value was 1.45 (AUC: 0.980, 95% CI: 0.946-1.000; P<0.001); the sensitivity of H/CL differential diagnosis between HCM and ATTR-CA was 97.1%(34/35), and the specificity was 14/14. Conclusion:99Tc m-PYP SPECT imaging is useful in differentiation of ATTR-CA and HCM, and the optimal cut-off value of H/CL for differential diagnosis of these 2 diseases is 1.45.

Objective:To establish a risk model of placenta accreta spectrum(PAS) based on the clinical risk factors and ultrasound signs of patients with placenta accreta, and identify severe placenta accreta prenatal.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 121 PAS patients admitted to Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2018 to June 2022 who were clinically classified or pathologically diagnosed during delivery. The two groups were divided into light and severe groups according to the implantation type. The clinical risk factors and ultrasound signs between the two groups were compared. A risk model of PAS was established based on the clinical risk factors and ultrasound signs to predict the perinatal complications.Results:A total of 130 cases of PAS were clinically diagnosed or pathologically diagnosed with placenta, 9 cases with incomplete clinical data or irregular ultrasound images were excluded, and the remaining 121 cases were included in the study. Among the 121 patients, 64 cases were placental accreta, 39 cases were placental increta, and 18 cases were placenta percreta. The placental accreta was defined as mild group, and the combination of placental increta and placenta percreta were referred to as severe group. There were no significant differences in placenta previa, and the number of uterine cavity operations (all P>0.05). There were significant differences in the number of cesarean section, myometrium thinning, placental lacunae, abnormal vascularization at the utero-bladder junction, bridging vessels at the utero-bladder junction, placental protuberance and cervical involvement (all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that placental lacunae, abnormal vasculization of the utero-bladder interface and the number of cesarean sections were independent risk factors for severe PAS. Based on this, a risk model was established and the ROC curve of each independent risk factor and risk model was plotted respectively. The AUC of the risk model was 0.826, which had better diagnostic efficacy than other independent risk factors. Conclusions:In the prenatal ultrasound classification diagnosis of high-risk patients with PAS, the placental lacunae, abnormal vascularization of utero-bladder interface and the number of cesarean section are combined to establish the risk model of PAS, which has a good diagnostic efficacy for severe placenta accreta.

Objective:To investigate the effect of 18F-FDG combined with 18F-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-1007 PET/CT on TNM staging and clinical treatment decision of patients with prostate cancer. Methods:Clinical data and PET/CT images of 31 patients (age (69.9±9.2) years) with prostate cancer who underwent PET/CT imaging with 18F-FDG and 18F-PSMA-1007 (dual-tracer imaging) in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from June 2020 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Paired χ2 test was used to compare the diagnostic efficacy of 18F-FDG, 18F-PSMA-1007 and combined imaging for diagnosing primary prostate cancer, regional lymph node metastases and distant metastases, and to analyze the influence of combined imaging on clinical treatment decision. Results:There were 282 metastatic sites in 31 patients, including 46 regional lymph node metastases in 13 patients and 236 distant metastases in 15 patients. The detection rates of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT and combined imaging for primary lesions were higher than the detection rate of 18F-FDG PET/CT (100%(31/31), 100%(31/31) vs 64.5%(20/31); χ2=13.37, P<0.001). Based on analysis of patients, the detection rates of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT and combined imaging for regional lymph node metastases were higher than the detection rate of 18F-FDG PET/CT (12/13, 12/13 vs 6/13; χ2=4.51, P=0.034), and the 3 detection rates for distant metastases were also significantly different (15/15, 15/15 vs 10/15; χ2=6.00, P=0.042). Based on analysis of lesions, the detection rates of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT and combined imaging for regional lymph node metastases were higher than the detection rate of 18F-FDG PET/CT (95.7%(44/46), 97.8%(45/46) and 45.7%(21/46); χ2 values: 25.37-49.56, all P<0.001). The detection rate of combined imaging for distant metastases was higher than that of 18F-FDG or 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT alone (96.2%(227/236) vs 68.6%(162/236), 58.9%(139/236)); and the detection rate of 18F-FDG PET/CT was higher than that of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT ( χ2 values: 4.85-94.22, all P<0.05). Clinical treatment decisions in 10 patients (32.3%, 10/31) were changed based on the results of combined imaging. Conclusion:For prostate cancer with suspected distant metastases, 18F-FDG and 18F-PSMA-1007 dual-tracer PET/CT imaging can improve staging and guide clinical treatment decisions.

Objective:To investigate the specific types of lateral meniscus injury in Schatzker type II tibial plateau fractures and its potential correlation with CT features of the lateral plateau.Methods:The data of 213 patients with Schatzker II tibial plateau fractures from August 2014 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 132 males and 81 females, aged from 29 to 61 years, with an average of 44.9 years. All patients underwent arthroscopic evaluation of fracture reduction immediately after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). According to the actual situation during the operation, the types and locations of lateral meniscus injury were determined and the patients were divided into the meniscus injury group and non-injury group. By measuring lateral plateau depression (LPD) and lateral plateau widening (LPW) of the lateral tibial plateau on CT images, the correlation of which and lateral meniscus injury was analyzed. The optimal critical values of LPD and LPW for predicting lateral meniscus injury were obtained by drawing the relevant receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:The meniscus injury group (109 patients) mainly showed injuries involving the mid-body and posterior horn of lateral meniscus (98.2%, 107/109) and LPD was 13.1±3.2 mm; while the LPD of 104 patients without meniscus injury was 9.1±3.0 mm with a statistical difference ( t=3.98, P<0.001). The LPW of meniscus injury group and non-injury groups was 8.0±1.3 mm and 6.7±1.6 mm, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.68, P=0.011). The optimal predictive critical point of LPD and LPW was 7.6 mm (sensitivity 90.3%, specificity 64.7%, area under the curve 0.834) and 7.3 mm (sensitivity 80.5%, specificity 58.8%, area under the curve 0.722). Conclusion:Schatzker II tibial plateau fractures combined with lateral meniscus injury is usually characterized by meniscus-joint capsule separation, rupture and longitudinal fracture. The mid-body and posterior horn of lateral meniscus injury is more likely to occur when LPD> 7.6 mm and/or LPW> 7.3 mm on coronal CT images.

Objective:To investigate the MRI features of the primary sinonasal malignant melanoma (SMM) and evaluate the signal pattern based on T 1WI and T 2WI, in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy of SMM. Methods:The MRI findings of 63 SMM cases confirmed by pathology from April 2007 to November 2018 at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. The signal intensity of malignant melanoma was classified into four types(Ⅰ—Ⅳ) according to the proportion of signal areas of the largest slice of the tumor on T 1WI and T 2WI. The classification criteria according to T 1WI: type Ⅰ, the area of hyperintensity was ≥50%; type Ⅱ, the area of hyperintensity was <50%; type Ⅲ, the tumor did not show hyperintensity, and the area of isointensity was ≥50%; type Ⅳ, the tumor did not have high signal area, and the area of low signal was ≥50%. The classification criteria according to T 2WI: type Ⅰ, the area of low signal in the tumor was ≥50%; type Ⅱ, the area of low signal was <50%; type Ⅲ, the tumor did not contain low signal area, and the area of isointensity was ≥50%; type Ⅳ, the tumor did not have low signal area, and the area of high signal intensity was ≥50%. The proportion of each type was calculated. Results:According to T 1WI, typeⅠwas identified in 27 cases (42.9%, 27/63), typeⅡ in 25 cases (39.7%, 25/63), type Ⅲ in 4 cases (6.3%, 4/63), and type Ⅳ in 7 cases (11.1%, 7/63). According to T 2WI, type Ⅰwas demonstrated in 29 cases (46.0%, 29/63), type Ⅱ in 28 cases (44.4%, 28/63), type Ⅲ in 2 cases (3.3%, 2/63), and type Ⅳ in 4 cases (6.3%, 4/63). There were 16 cases classified as type I based on T 1WI and T 2WI. Conclusions:Typical and atypical SMM can be identified according to signal patterns. The typeⅠsignal pattern of SMM cases on T 1WI and T 2WI is typical and can be easily diagnosed, but the proportion was less than 50%. For atypical SMM, malignant melanoma should be strongly suspected if hyperintense on T 1WI or hypointense on T 2WI is found.