ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 （MAP-2）， alpha-tubulin （α-tubulin）， and synaptophysin （SYP） are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease （PD）， analyzed their correlation， and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group （30 cases） and a control group （30 cases）. Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine， and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score， TCM syndrome score， and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment， the TCM syndrome score， UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% （19/30）， and that of the treatment group was 86.7% （26/30）. The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group （Z=-2.03， P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group， were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.

Objective:To investigate the value of the virtual monoenergetic image (VMI) obtained by a new dual-layer detector spectral CT combined with metal artifact reduction algorithms(O-MAR) in reduction of different types of artifacts caused by 125I seeds implantation and in improvement of the post-operative CT image quality. Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-five patients who underwent dual-layer detector spectral CT scanning of the chest and abdomen after 125I seeds implantation were retrospectively included at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March to September 2022. The spectral data were collected and reconstructed into conventional CT image (CI), VMI image (50-150 keV, 20 keV/level), CI+O-MAR image, and VMI+O-MAR image (50-150 keV, 20 keV/level). The artifacts′ removal effects and image quality improvement in each group were evaluated. Two slices with the strongest artifacts were selected for analysis for each patient, resulting in a total of 70 slices. Objective indicators including artifact index (AI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of soft tissue regions affected by artifacts were measured and calculated. Subjective indicators including the overcorrected artifacts and new artifacts, the different forms of artifacts, the diagnosis of artifacts, and the image quality were assessed. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparisons among multiple groups. Paired t test was used to compare the quantitative indicators between the combined O-MAR group and the non-O-MAR group. Kappa statistics was used to evaluate the consistency between observers. Results:In high/low-density artifacts (ROI H/L), the AI values in all groups showed decrease with increasing VMI keV. In artifact-affected tissue (ROI T), SNR of the CI/VMI (70-150 keV)+O-MAR group were significantly higher than those of the CI/VMI group ( P<0.05), CNR of the CI/VMI(50-150 keV)+O-MAR group were significantly higher than those of the CI/VMI group ( P<0.05). Both overcorrection and new artifacts mainly presented in VMI 50 keV and VMI 70 keV groups; Compared with VMI (50-70 keV) group, significantly less numbers of overcorrection and new artifacts were found in VMI (50-70 keV)+O-MAR group ( P<0.05); regarding the comparison of artifact types, with the VMI keV increasing, the number of a-type banded artifacts gradually decreased on images with high-density artifacts, reaching a minimum of 3 in the VMI 150 keV+O-MAR group; while the number of e-type artifacts with little or no artifacts increased, with the highest number of 23 in the VMI 150 keV+O-MAR group. The total number of high-density artifacts in each type decreased with increasing VMI keV. As VMI keV increased, the diagnostic and image quality scores of high-density artifacts in each group were significantly higher than those of low-density artifacts in the VMI+O-MAR group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:VMI combined with O-MAR can significantly improve the objective and subjective image quality of follow-up CT imaging after 125I seed implantation, enhancing lesion visibility and diagnostic confidence. Additionally, VMI+O-MAR showed more pronounced correction effect on high-density artifacts.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of gastrointestinal space-occupying lesions.Methods Data of 116 patients with gastric,small intestinal or colorectal space-occupying lesions(totally 116 lesions)who underwent CT-guided percutaneous biopsy were retrospectively analyzed.The success rate of sampling was recorded.According to surgical pathology or follow-up results,the effectiveness of percutaneous biopsy,including the diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and false negative rate were calculated.The impact of cavity wall thickness of the lesion(＜1 cm and≥1 cm),needle insertion depth(＜5 cm and≥5 cm)and puncture needle through gastrointestinal tract or not were observed and the related complications were recorded.Results All lesions were successfully sampled.The diagnostic sensitivity of percutaneous biopsy was 88.07%(96/109),with specificity of 100%(7/7),accuracy of 88.79%(103/116)and false negative rate of 11.93%(13/109).For lesions with cavity wall thickness≥1 cm and puncture needle insertion depth＜5 cm,the sensitivity and accuracy of puncture biopsy were higher(all P＜0.05),while the sensitivity and accuracy of puncture needle through gastrointestinal tract or not were not different(both P＞0.05).Slight bleeding around the lesions occurred in 12 cases(12/116,10.34%),but no other complications happened.Conclusion CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of gastrointestinal space-occupying lesions was effective and safe.

Objective To observe the value of intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)for assisting endovascular therapy for renal artery stenosis(RAS).Methods Thirty patients with RAS who underwent endovascular therapy were retrospectively analyzed.Parameters of renal artery and plaques in RAS segment measured with CT angiography(CTA)and IVUS before treatment were compared.Bland-Altman diagram was performed to evaluate the consistency of lumen cross-sectional stenosis rate and plaque eccentricity index between CTA and IVUS.The stent parameters measured with IVUS were recorded immediately after implantation of balloon-expandable covered stents.Results Before treatment,the minimum lumen diameter,lumen cross-sectional stenosis rate and stenotic segment length of IVUS were all larger,while maximum lumen diameter and lumen eccentricity index of IVUS were both smaller than those of CTA(all P＜0.05).No significant difference of plaque eccentricity index,plaque type nor stenosis distal remodeling was found between CTA and IVUS(all P＞0.05).The average difference between IVUS and CTA for evaluating lumen cross-sectional stenosis rate and plaque eccentricity index was-0.020(-0.096,0.050)and-0.020(-0.130,0.091),respectively.The consistency of IVUS and CTA for evaluating plaque eccentricity index was better than that of lumen cross-sectional stenosis rate.The stent symmetry,stent eccentricity index,stent expansion coefficient and stenosis coverage rate immediately after implantation measured with IVUS was(82.69±14.61)%,(1.54±9.16)%,(99.81±10.70)%and 100%,respectively.Among 30 cases,2 cases(2/30,6.67%)underwent postdilation since poor stent apposition.Conclusion IVUS could assist evaluating lumen and plaque parameters of stenotic renal arteries,guiding stent release and real-timely monitoring the effect of endovascular therapy.

Objective To observe the value of three-dimensional(3D)ultrasound volumetric parameters of carotid atherosclerotic plaque for evaluating the risk of coronary heart disease(CHD)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods Totally 88 T2DM patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque were prospectively enrolled and divided into CHD group(n=56)and non-CHD group(n=32)according to results of coronary artery angiography.Clinical data,two-dimensional(2D)and 3D ultrasonic findings of carotid atherosclerotic plaques were collected and compared between groups.The independent predictors of CHD in T2DM patients were screened with multivariate logistic regression.Then the receiver operating characteristic curves of 3D volumetric parameters of carotid atherosclerotic plaque were drawn,the areas under the curve(AUC)were calculated,and efficacy for predicting the risk of CHD in T2DM patients were evaluated and compared.Results Compared with patients in non-CHD group,T2DM patients in CHD group had longer diabetes duration,higher glycosylated hemoglobin and low density lipoprotein(LDL),as well as bigger carotid atherosclerotic plaque volume and lower grayscale median(GSM)(all P＜0.05).Along with diabetes duration and LDL,the volume and GSM of carotid atherosclerotic plaque were also the predictive factors for CHD in T2DM patients(all P＜0.05).AUC of volume and GSM of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and the combination of them was 0.864,0.828 and 0.927,respectively,and of the combination was higher than each alone(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The volume and GSM of carotid atherosclerotic plaque obtained with 3D ultrasound could indirectly reflect the risk of CHD in T2DM patients.Combination of these two parameters was more effective for predicting the risk of CHD.

Brain development requires a delicate balance between self-renewal and differentiation in neural stem cells (NSC), which rely on the precise regulation of gene expression. Ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) modulates gene expression by the hydroxymethylation of 5-methylcytosine in DNA as an important epigenetic factor and participates in the neuronal differentiation. Yet, the regulation of TET2 in the process of neuronal differentiation remains unknown. Here, the protein level of TET2 was reduced by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway during NSC differentiation, in contrast to mRNA level. We identified that TET2 physically interacts with the core subunits of the glucose-induced degradation-deficient (GID) ubiquitin ligase complex, an evolutionarily conserved ubiquitin ligase complex and is ubiquitinated by itself. The protein levels of GID complex subunits increased reciprocally with TET2 level upon NSC differentiation. The silencing of the core subunits of the GID complex, including WDR26 and ARMC8, attenuated the ubiquitination and degradation of TET2, increased the global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels, and promoted the differentiation of the NSC. TET2 level increased in the brain of the Wdr26^+/- mice. Our results illustrated that the GID complex negatively regulates TET2 protein stability, further modulates NSC differentiation, and represents a novel regulatory mechanism involved in brain development.
Animals ; Mice ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation ; Neural Stem Cells ; Translocation, Genetic ; Ubiquitins/genetics* ; Ligases/genetics*

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of CT-guided 125I seed implantation in patients with oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activating mutations (EGFRm+ ) without progression after first-line EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment. Methods:From January 2015 to January 2019, 89 eligible patients (38 males, 51 females; age: (62±11) years) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into 2 groups according to different treatment methods. The 125I seeds were implanted for oligometastatic lesions and/or primary tumors without progression after first-line EGFR-TKIs therapy in local consolidation treatment group (Group A, n=32). The maintenance treatment group (Group B, n=57) only received EGFR-TKIs until disease progression. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the 2 groups were estimated by Kaplan-Meier curves, and were compared by using log-rank test. Complications in Group A were observed. Results:The follow-up time of the group A and group B were 36.5(31.0, 43.3) months and 30.0(24.0, 35.0) months respectively. The median PFS and OS in group A were 15.0(95% CI: 12.8-17.2 ) months and 37.0(95% CI: 33.9-40.1) months, both of which were significantly longer than those in group B (12.0(95% CI: 10.9-13.1) months and 31.0(95% CI: 28.9-33.1) months; χ2 values: 8.80, 7.15, P values: 0.003, 0.007). In Group A, the total incidence of complications in CT-guided 125I seed implantation was 21.9%(7/32), and the common complications and adverse events were pneumothorax and hemoptysis. Only 1 patient underwent chest tube insertion, and the rest were treated with conservative treatment. No operation related death occurred. Conclusion:CT-guided 125I seed implantation is safe and feasible for patients with EGFRm+ oligometastatic NSCLC without progression after first-line EGFR-TKIs treatment, and can prolong the PFS and OS of patients.

Objective:To compare and analyze the technical success rate and safety between computed tomography(CT)-percutaneous radiological gastrostomy (PRG) and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).Methods:From January 2017 to January 2022, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, the data of 76 patients who underwent gastrostomy due to inability to eat orally were collected, including 38 patients in PEG group and 38 patients in CT-PRG group. Surgical outcomes and complications were compared between the PEG and CT-PRG groups. Surgical outcomes included technical success rate, operation time, postoperative body mass index and hospital stay; while complications included minor complications (such as perifistula infection, granulation tissue proliferation, leakage, pneumoperitoneum, fistula tube obstruction, fistula tube detachment and persistent pain) and serious complications (such as bleeding, peritonitis, colonic perforation and death within 30 d). Independent sample t test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact probability test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The technical success rate of CT-PRG group was higher than that of the PEG group (100.0%, 38/38 vs. 78.9%, 30/38), and the operation time was shorter than that of the PEG group ((17.16±8.52) min vs. (29.33±16.22) min), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=1.19, t=2.36; P=0.038 and 0.011). There were no significant differences in postoperative body mass index ((16.29±3.56) kg/m 2 vs. (16.12±3.17) kg/m 2) and hospital stay ((4.13±1.26) d vs. (3.52±1.13) d) between PEG group and CT-PRG group (both P>0.05). The incidence of minor complications in the PEG group was 42.1% (16/38), including 6 cases of perifistulal infection, 1 case of leakage, 5 cases of fistula tube obstruction, 1 case of fistula tube detachment, and 3 cases of persistent pain. The incidence of serious complications was 5.3% (2/38), including 1 case of bleeding and 1 case of colonic perforation. The incidence of minor complications in the CT-PRG group was 39.5% (15/38), including 5 cases of perifistula infection, 1 case of granulation tissue proliferation, 3 cases of pneumoperitoneum, 3 cases of fistula tube obstruction, 2 cases of fistula tube detachment, and 1 case of persistent pain. The incidence of serious complications was 0. There was no significant difference in the incidence of minor complications between the PEG group and the CT-PRG group ( P>0.05), while the incidence of serious complications in the CT-PRG group was lower than that of the PEG group, and the difference was statistically significant (Fisher exact probability test, P=0.043). Conclusion:PEG is a safe and effective method of gastrostomy, but for patients with esophageal obstruction, CT-PRG can be an effective supplement to PEG.

Objective:To investigate the association between hepatic echinococcus granulosus infection and necrosis with gene polymorphism of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and to identify the related factors at the gene level.Methods:A total of 106 patients with hepatic echinococcosis who underwent surgical treatment in the department of hepatobiliary surgery, People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected. Patients with necrosis caused by hepatic echinococcus granulosus infection were selected as the observation group, and patients without necrosis caused by hepatic echinococcus granulosus infection were selected as the control group, with 53 cases in each group. The serum levels of IL-10 and TNF-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The polymorphisms of IL-10 (-592, -1082) and TNF-α (rsl800630) were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The levels of IL-10 and TNF-α and their gene polymorphisms were analyzed.Results:The levels of serum IL-10 and TNF-α in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05); There was significant difference in genotype and allele frequency of IL-10 (-592, -1082) and TNF-α (rsl800630) (all P<0.05). The serum IL-10 level of CC genotype patients with IL-10 gene -592C/A locus in the observation group was higher than that of CA+ AA genotype patients, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). The serum IL-10 level in patients with TT genotype at -1082T>A of IL-10 gene in the observation group was higher than that in patients with TA+ AA genotype, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). The serum TNF-α level in patients with CC genotype at rsl800630C/A locus of TNF-α gene in the observation group was higher than that in patients with CA+ AA genotype, with statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The changes of IL-10 (-592, -1082) and TNF-α (rsl800630) gene polymorphisms may be associated with hepatic echinococcus granulosus infection and necrosis.

Objective:To compare the safety and clinical value of percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (CT-FNA) with CT-guided core-needle biopsy (CT-CNB) in diagnosis of pancreatic lesions.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with pancreatic lesions who underwent percutaneous CT-guided biopsy from January 2017 to January 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. A total of 454 patients (251 men, 203 women) were enrolled in this study with age of (60.5±11.6) years old. They were divided into the CT-FNA group ( n=300) and the CT-CNB group ( n=154) according to the biopsy method. The one-time diagnosis rate, accuracy, sensitivity, false negative rate and incidence rate of complications of the two groups were compared. Results:The one-time diagnosis rate and accuracy rate in the CT-CNB group were slightly higher than those in the CT-FNA group, but the differences were not statistically significant [92.2%(142/154) vs. 86.0%(258/300), χ 2=3.74, P=0.053; 97.4%(150/154) vs. 92.0%(276/300), χ 2=0.16, P=0.690]. Compared with the CT-FNA group, the CT-CNB group had a higher sensitivity and a lower false negative rate, and the differences were statistically significant [97.2%(138/142) vs. 91.5%(260/284), χ 2=4.89, P=0.036; 2.8%(4/142) vs. 8.5%(24/284), χ 2=4.89, P=0.036]. Common complications in the two groups were pain, hematoma and pancreatitis, and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidences of complication [9.0%(27/300) vs. 9.1%(14/154), χ 2<0.01, P=0.975]. Conclusions:Both CT-FNA and CT-CNB were safe for diagnosis of pancreatic lesions, with high diagnostic yields and with similar safety and accuracy. When compared with CT-FNA, CT-CNB has a higher sensitivity and a lower false negative rate.