Objective To assess the correlation between wall shear stress(WSS)in the internal carotid artery and neovascularization of carotid plaque using color ultrasound imaging.Methods A total of 99 patients diag-nosed with carotid atherosclerotic plaque(CAP)were prospectively selected between July 2021 and September 2023.All patients underwent comprehensive carotid imaging including color ultrasound,conventional ultrasound,and carotid contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS).Based on the presence or absence of intraplaque neovasculariza-tion(IPN)in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease,they were categorized into the forming group and non-forming group.Comparative analysis was performed on wall shear stress(WSS)values and clinical data between these two groups to identify factors influencing IPN formation in the carotid artery among patients with ischemic cere-brovascular disease,while also assessing the predictive value of average WSS for IPN formation.Results Among 99 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease,carotid artery IPN was observed in 23 cases,while the remaining 76 cases did not exhibit carotid artery IPN.The formation group demonstrated significantly higher levels of white blood cell count,plaque thickness,plaque length,stenosis≥70%ratio,C-reactive protein,and matrix metallopro-teinase-9 to tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-9/TIMP-1)ratio compared to the non-formation group(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis revealed that mean wall shear stress(OR=4.545;95%CI:1.998～10.339),stenosis severity(OR=2.765;95%CI:1.215～6.290),C-reactive protein levels(OR=3.047;95%CI:1.339～6.930),and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio(OR=3.543;95%CI:1.558～8.060)were significant influencing factors for carotid artery IPN formation in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease(P<0.05).The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)analysis revealed that the area under the curve(AUC)for average WSS in predicting carotid artery intraplaque neovascularization formation in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease was 0.797(P<0.05).At an average WSS of 10.23 dyne/cm2,the maximum specificity and sensitivity were deter-mined to be 85.53%and 78.26%,respectively.Conclusion The mean WSS of internal carotid artery has a good value in predicting the formation of carotid IPN in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Human beta defensin 4 is a small cationic peptide with a broad range of antimicrobial activity. It plays an important role in innate immunity of human body, especially in mucosal and epithelial defense. In this study, the full-length encoding gene of HBD4 was synthesized by overlap extension polymerase chain reaction and inserted into cloning vector pMD18-T. The gene encoding mature peptide of HBD4 was amplified by PCR and cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4T-2. Then pGEX-4T-2/mHBD4 was transformed into E. coli DH5 alpha, which was induced by isopropy-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). The identification was made by means of endonuclease digestion, DNA sequencing, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamine gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The results showed that the synthesized gene and cloned gene were identical to the HBD4 gene sequence registered in GenBank and were successfully cloned into cloning vector pMD18-T and prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4T-2. After IPTG induction, the GST-HBD4 fusion protein was successfully expressed in E. coli.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; beta-Defensins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To explore the role of plastic astrocytes in focal cerebral infarct. Methods Immunohistochemical and double immunofluorescence techniques were used in the study. Results The astrcytes positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) occurred in the periinfarct area appeared hypertrophy and proliferation,specially on their processes and formed a network,and the processes oriented toward the infarct center from the periinfarction.The expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 1( EAAT1) increased in the penumbra area of cerebral infarct and manifested spot and fibre.The confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis showed the double staining for EAAT1 and GFAP.Conclusion The plastic astrocytes might participate in the pathological process of cerebral infarct recovery by enhancing the expression of EAAT1.;