BACKGROUND About 10%-31% of colorectal liver metastases(CRLM)patients would concomitantly show hepatic lymph node metastases(LNM),which was considered as sign of poor biological behavior and a relative contraindicatio...BACKGROUND About 10%-31% of colorectal liver metastases(CRLM)patients would concomitantly show hepatic lymph node metastases(LNM),which was considered as sign of poor biological behavior and a relative contraindication for liver resection.Up to now,there’s still lack of reliable preoperative methods to assess the status of hepatic lymph nodes in patients with CRLM,except for pathology examination of lymph node after resection.AIM To compare the ability of mono-exponential,bi-exponential,and stretchedexponential diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)models in distinguishing between benign and malignant hepatic lymph nodes in patients with CRLM who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery.METHODS In this retrospective study,97 CRLM patients with pathologically confirmed hepatic lymph node status underwent magnetic resonance imaging,including DWI with ten b values before and after chemotherapy.Various parameters,such as the apparent diffusion coefficient from the mono-exponential model,and the true diffusion coefficient,the pseudo-diffusion coefficient,and the perfusion fraction derived from the intravoxel incoherent motion model,along with distributed diffusion coefficient(DDC)andαfrom the stretched-exponential model(SEM),were measured.The parameters before and after chemotherapy were compared between positive and negative hepatic lymph node groups.A nomogram was constructed to predict the hepatic lymph node status.The reliability and agreement of the measurements were assessed using the coefficient of variation and intraclass correlation coefficient.RESULTS Multivariate analysis revealed that the pre-treatment DDC value and the short diameter of the largest lymph node after treatment were independent predictors of metastatic hepatic lymph nodes.A nomogram combining these two factors demonstrated excellent performance in distinguishing between benign and malignant lymph nodes in CRLM patients,with an area under the curve of 0.873.Furthermore,parameters from SEM showed substantial repeatability.CONCLUSION The developed nomogram,incorporating the pre-treatment DDC and the short axis of the largest lymph node,can be used to predict the presence of hepatic LNM in CRLM patients undergoing chemotherapy before surgery.This nomogram was proven to be more valuable,exhibiting superior diagnostic performance compared to quantitative parameters derived from multiple b values of DWI.The nomogram can serve as a preoperative assessment tool for determining the status of hepatic lymph nodes and aiding in the decision-making process for surgical treatment in CRLM patients.展开更多
A new kind of non-Gaussian quantum catalyzed state is proposed via multiphoton measurements and two-mode squeezing as an input of thermal state.The characteristics of the generated multiphoton catalysis output state d...A new kind of non-Gaussian quantum catalyzed state is proposed via multiphoton measurements and two-mode squeezing as an input of thermal state.The characteristics of the generated multiphoton catalysis output state depends on the thermal parameter,catalyzed photon number and squeezing parameter.We then analyze the nonclassical properties by examining the photon number distribution,photocount distribution and partial negativity of the Wigner function.Our findings indicate that nonclassicality can be achieved through the implementation of multiphoton catalysis operations and modulated by the thermal parameter,catalyzed photon number and squeezing parameter.展开更多
BACKGROUND Programmed death protein(PD)-1 blockade immunotherapy significantly prolongs survival in patients with metastatic mismatch repair-deficient(dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high(MSI-H)gastrointestinal malig...BACKGROUND Programmed death protein(PD)-1 blockade immunotherapy significantly prolongs survival in patients with metastatic mismatch repair-deficient(dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high(MSI-H)gastrointestinal malignancies such gastric and colorectal cancer.However,the data on preoperative immunotherapy are limited.AIM To evaluate the short-term efficacy and toxicity of preoperative PD-1 blockade immunotherapy.METHODS In this retrospective study,we enrolled 36 patients with dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal malignancies.All the patients received PD-1 blockade with or without chemotherapy of CapOx regime preoperatively.PD1 blockade 200 mg was given intravenously over 30 min on day 1 of each 21-d cycle.RESULTS Three patients with locally advanced gastric cancer achieved pathological complete response(pCR).Three patients with locally advanced duodenal carcinoma achieved clinical complete response(cCR),followed by watch and wait.Eight of 16 patients with locally advanced colon cancer achieved pCR.All four patients with liver metastasis from colon cancer reached CR,including three with pCR and one with cCR.pCR was achieved in two of five patients with nonliver metastatic colorectal cancer.CR was achieved in four of five patients with low rectal cancer,including three with cCR and one with pCR.cCR was achieved in seven of 36 cases,among which,six were selected for watch and wait strategy.No cCR was observed in gastric or colon cancer.CONCLUSION Preoperative PD-1 blockade immunotherapy in dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal malignancies can achieve a high CR,especially in patients with duodenal or low rectal cancer,and can achieve high organ function protection.展开更多
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),a leading chronic disease worldwide,affects approximately a quarter of the global population.Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is an advanced form of NAFLD and is more likely to...Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),a leading chronic disease worldwide,affects approximately a quarter of the global population.Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is an advanced form of NAFLD and is more likely to progress to liver fibrosis than simple steatosis.NASH is also identified as the most rapidly growing cause of hepatocellular carcinoma.Although in the past decade,several phase II/III clinical trials have shown promising results in the use of novel drugs targeting lipid synthase,farnesoid X receptor signaling,peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor signaling,hepatocellular injury,and inflammatory signaling,proven pharmaceutical agents to treat NASH are still lacking.Thus,continuous exploration of the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of NAFLD and the identification of novel therapeutic targets remain urgent tasks in the field.In the current review,we summarize studies reported in recent years that not only provide new insights into the mechanisms of NAFLD development but also explore the possibility of treating NAFLD by targeting newly identified signaling pathways.We also discuss evidence focusing on the intrahepatic targets involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD as well as extrahepatic targets affecting liver metabolism and function.展开更多
BACKGROUND The intestinal microcirculation functions in food absorption and metabolic substance exchanges.Accumulating evidence indicates that intestinal microcirculatory dysfunction is a significant source of multipl...BACKGROUND The intestinal microcirculation functions in food absorption and metabolic substance exchanges.Accumulating evidence indicates that intestinal microcirculatory dysfunction is a significant source of multiple gastrointestinal diseases.To date,there has not been a scientometric analysis of intestinal microcirculatory research.AIM To investigate the current status,development trends,and frontiers of intestinal microcirculatory research based on bibliometric analysis.METHODS VOSviewer and CiteSpace 6.1.R2 were used to identify the overall characteristics and knowledge map of intestinal microcirculatory research based on the core literature published from 2000 to 2021 in the Web of Science database.The characteristics of each article,country of origin,institution,journal,cocitations,and other information were analyzed and visualized.RESULTS There were 1364 publications enrolled in the bibliometric analysis,exhibiting an upward trend from 2000 to 2021 with increased participation worldwide.The United States and Dalhousie University took the lead among countries and institutions,respectively.Shock was the most prolific journal,and Nature Reviews Microbiology Clinical had the most citations.The topical hotspots and frontiers in intestinal microcirculatory research were centered on the pathological processes of functional impairment of intestinal microvessels,diverse intestinal illnesses,and clinical treatment.CONCLUSION Our study highlights insights into trends of the published research on the intestinal microcirculation and offers serviceable guidance to researchers by summarizing the prolific areas in intestinal disease research to date.展开更多
Background:The Jiawei Yangshen pill enhances sperm abundance.However,the pharmacological mechanism of action of the Jiawei Yangshen pill remains unclear.This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of the Jiawei...Background:The Jiawei Yangshen pill enhances sperm abundance.However,the pharmacological mechanism of action of the Jiawei Yangshen pill remains unclear.This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of the Jiawei Yangshen pill in the treatment of dyszoospermia and study the underlying mechanism.Methods:A dyszoospermia model was established by injecting mice with cyclophosphamide(50 mg/kg)consecutively for 7 days.Physiological and pathological indicators of the testis and hormone levels were examined after 4 weeks of treatment.Untargeted metabolomics using high-performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry was performed on testis specimens.Network pharmacology analysis was used to construct an“ingredient-target-disease”interactive network,followed by metabolic pathway enrichment analysis.Western blotting was performed to examine the levels of the related proteins.Results:The Jiawei Yangshen pill significantly increased the testis index,epididymal index,sperm count,and testosterone level,while concurrently decreasing sperm mortality and luteinizing hormone levels.The spermatogenic cells in the Jiawei Yangshen pill-treated mice were well arranged with an increased number.Significantly different metabolites were identified.Western blotting showed that the expression levels of p-anti-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/anti-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and p-protein kinase B/protein kinase B were significantly increased after the Jiawei Yangshen pill treatment,whereas the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1 and nuclear factor kappa B(p65)were remarkably decreased.Conclusion:The Jiawei Yangshen pill significantly improved testicular microcirculatory injury and overall metabolic levels in mice with dyszoospermia.展开更多
Background:Traditional Chinese medicine requires special processing before it can be effectively used for clinical treatment of diseases.In particular,Tangshen stir-fried with wheat bran smoke has been found to enhanc...Background:Traditional Chinese medicine requires special processing before it can be effectively used for clinical treatment of diseases.In particular,Tangshen stir-fried with wheat bran smoke has been found to enhance the function of the stomach and spleen.However,there is limited research on the technology and pharmacodynamic effects of Tangshen fried with bran.Therefore,the objective of this article is to optimize the method of stir-frying with bran for Tangshen processing and to compare the anti-fatigue and hypoxia-resistance effects of Tangshen before and after bran-frying.Methods:The response surface methodology was utilized to optimize the frying temperature,frying time,and the bran-to-Tangshen ratio,using lobetyolin as the indicator.The swimming time of mice and the levels of blood urea nitrogen,lactate dehydrogenase,and blood glucose in fatigued mice were compared before and after Tangshen was fried with bran.Additionally,the hypoxic resistance ability of Tangshen before and after bran-frying was determined through normobaric hypoxia test and sodium nitrite poisoning test.Results:The optimal bran-frying conditions for Tangshen processing were determined as:frying temperature of 167°C,frying time of 2.67 min,and the bran-to-Tangshen ratio of 50:100.Pharmacodynamic analysis results indicated that Tangshen significantly increased the GLU content(P<0.01)and significantly reduced the LDH content(P<0.01)both before and after bran-frying.While both traditional and new bran-frying methods significantly increased the content of muscle glycogen(P<0.05),the optimized method in this study also significantly elevated the content of liver glycogen(P<0.05).The traditional method significantly prolonged the survival time of mice from sodium nitrite poisoning(P<0.05).Conclusion:The response surface model proved to be highly effective in optimizing the stir-frying process with bran for Tangshen processing.The results of this study indicate that Tangshen possesses anti-fatigue and hypoxia-resistance effects both before and after bran-frying,with bran-fried Tangshen exhibiting significantly stronger effects.展开更多
Object:The aim is to evaluate how effective Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)is in treating patients who have central retinal vein occlusion with macular edema(CRVO-ME)in a real-world study.Furthermore,the objective o...Object:The aim is to evaluate how effective Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)is in treating patients who have central retinal vein occlusion with macular edema(CRVO-ME)in a real-world study.Furthermore,the objective of the research was to examine the TCM prescription trends in the management of CRVO-ME.Method:A single-center real-world study(RWS)was carried out over a span of 19 years,following the established design.The study encompassed 113 patients diagnosed with CRVO-ME.Out of these,74 patients received TCM treatment,while the remaining individuals underwent a combined therapy involving TCM and anti-VEGF drugs through intravitreal injection.The patients were matched using propensity score matching(PSM).The result measured in the RWS was BCVA.The oral prescriptions for CRVO-ME that led to observable and effective outcomes were collected.Excel and the TCM Inheritance Auxiliary Platform V2.5 were utilized to optimize mutual information,hierarchical clustering based on entropy,and other techniques to extract medication regulations and features.Result:After applying PSM,each group comprised 29 cases.Both groups exhibited improved BCVA following treatment;however,there was no statistically significant distinction in BCVA or effectiveness between the two groups(all P>0.05).Apart from the analysis of oral prescriptions for CRVO-ME,the investigation pinpointed the most frequently used TCMs,namely Flos Carthami,Semen Persicae,Radix Angelica sinensis,Radix Rehmanniae,and Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng.Frequently utilized medications tended to possess cold,warm,or mild attributes and exhibited a taste profile that was either bitter or sweet.The primary meridians associated with the medicines employed in treating CRVO-ME were liver,spleen,stomach,heart,and lung.Through the application of association rule analysis,it was discerned that there were 195 commonly employed combinations of medicines.Additionally,a complex system entropy cluster analysis unveiled 13 key combinations of medicines.By employing an unsupervised entropy hierarchical clustering analysis,a novel prescription was formulated.Conclusion:Within a real-world population of CRVO-ME patients,TCM exhibited its effectiveness.The treatment approach for CRVO-ME predominantly involved the regulation of qi(Qi is an exceedingly subtle substance within the human body,brimming with vitality and ceaseless motion.It constitutes the fundamental element that shapes and sustains the various processes of human life.)and blood as well as the resolution of dampness.The oral prescriptions frequently targeted the meridians of liver,spleen,stomach,heart,and lungs.展开更多
AIM: To investigate whether autologous dendritic cell (DC)-cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy is able to improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy in colon cancer.
Objective： This study investigated the capability of dual-energy spectral computed tomography （CT） to quantitatively evaluate lung perfusion defects that are induced by central lung cancer. Methods： Thirty-two pat...Objective： This study investigated the capability of dual-energy spectral computed tomography （CT） to quantitatively evaluate lung perfusion defects that are induced by central lung cancer. Methods： Thirty-two patients with central lung cancer underwent CT angiography using spectral imaging. A univariate general linear model was conducted to analyze the variance of iodine concentration/CT value with three factors of lung fields. A paired t-test was used to compare iodine concentrations and CT values between the distal end of lung cancer and the corresponding area in the contralateral normal lung. Results： Iodine concentrations increased progressively in the far, intermediate and near ground sides in the normal lung fields at 0.60±0.28, 0.93±0.27 and 1.25±0.38 mg/mL, respectively （P〈0.001）. The same trend was observed for the CT values [-（840.64±49.08）, -（812.66±50.85） and -（760.83±89.17） HU, P〈0.001]. The iodine concentration （0.70±0.42 mg/mL） of the lung field in the distal end of lung cancer was significantly lower than the corresponding area in the contralateral normal lung （1.19±0.62 mg/mL） （t=-7.23, P〈0.001）. However, the CT value of lung field in the distal end of lung cancer was significantly higher than the corresponding area in the contralateral normal lung [-（765.29±93.34） HU vs. -（800.07±76.18） HU, t=3.564, P=0.001]. Conclusions： Spectral CT imaging based on the spectral differentiation of iodine is feasible and can quantitatively evaluate pulmonary perfusion and identify perfusion defects that are induced by central lung cancer. Spectral CT seems to be a promising technique for the simultaneous evaluation of both morphological and functional lung information.展开更多
Objective： To assess if diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance （MR） imaging without apparent diffusion coefficient （ADC） values provides added diagnostic value in combination with conventional MR imaging in the de...Objective： To assess if diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance （MR） imaging without apparent diffusion coefficient （ADC） values provides added diagnostic value in combination with conventional MR imaging in the detection and characterization of small nodules in cirrhotic liver. Methods： Two observers retrospectively and independently analyzed 86 nodules （_〈3 em） certified pathologically in 33 patients with liver cirrhosis, including 48 hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） nodules, 13 high-grade dysplastic nodules （HDN）, 10 low-grade dysplastic nodules （LDNs） and 15 other benign nodules. All these focal nodules were evaluated with conventional MR images （Tl-weighted, T2-weighted and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced images） and breath-hold diffusion-weighted images （DWI） （b=500 s/mm2）. The nodules were classified by using a scale of 1-3 （1, not seen; 3, well seen） on DWI for qualitative assessment. These small nodules were characterized by two radiologists. ADC values weren＇t measured. The diagnostic performance of the combined DWI-conventional images and the conventional images alone was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves. The area under the curves （Az）, sensitivity and specificity values for characterizing different small nodules were also calculated. Results： Among 48 HCC nodules, 33 （68.8%） were graded as 3 （well seen）, 6 （12.5%） were graded as 2 （partially obscured）, and 9 weren＇t seen on DWI. Among 13 HDNs, there were 3 （23.1%） and 4 （30.8%） graded as 3 and 2 respectively. Five （50%） of 10 benign nodules were partially obscured and slightly hyperintense. For 86 nodules, the average diagnostic accuracy of combined DWI-conventional images was 82.56%, which was increased significantly compared with conventional MR images with 76.17%. For HCC and HDN, the diagnostic accuracy of combined DWI-conventional images increased from 78.69% to 86.07 %. Conclusions： Diffusion-weighted MR imaging does provide added diagnostic value in the detection and characterization of HDN and HCC, and it may not be helpful for LDN and regenerative nodule （RN） in cirrhotic liver.展开更多
Androgen and androgen receptor （AR） play important roles in male spermatogenesis and fertility, yet detailed androgen/AR signals in Sertoli cells remain unclear. To identify AR target genes in Sertoli cells, we anal...Androgen and androgen receptor （AR） play important roles in male spermatogenesis and fertility, yet detailed androgen/AR signals in Sertoli cells remain unclear. To identify AR target genes in Sertoli cells, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of testis between mice lacking AR in Sertoli cells （S-AR-/y） and their littermate wild-type （WT） mice. Digital gene expression analysis identified 2276 genes downregulated and 2865 genes upregulated in the S-AR-/y mice testis compared to WT ones. To further nail down the difference within Sertoli cells, we first constructed Sertoli cell line TM4 with stably transfected AR （named as TM4/AR） and found androgens failed to transactivate AR in Sertoli TM4 and TM4/AR cells. Interestingly, additional transient transfection of AR-cDNA resulted in significant androgen responsiveness with TM4/AR cells showing 10 times more androgen sensitivity than TM4 cells. In the condition where maximal androgen response was demonstrated, we then analyzed gene expression and found the expression levels of 2313 genes were changed more than twofold by transient transfection of AR-cDNA in the presence of testosterone. Among these genes, 603 androgen-/ AR-regulated genes, including 164 upregulated and 439 downregulated, were found in both S-AR-/y mice testis and TM4/AR cells. Using informatics analysis, the gene ontology was applied to analyze these androgen-/AR-regulated genes to predict the potential roles of androgen/AR in the process of spermatogenesis. Together, using gene analysis in both S-AR-/y mice testis and TM4/AR cells may help us to better understand the androeen/AR signals in Sertoli cells and their influences in spermatogenesis.展开更多
AIM: To explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 8q24 and gastric cancer risk. METHODS: A case-control investigation including 212 gastric cancer patients and 377 healthy controls was ...AIM: To explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 8q24 and gastric cancer risk. METHODS: A case-control investigation including 212 gastric cancer patients and 377 healthy controls was conducted. The genotypes of SNPs (rs6983267, rs7008482 and rs10808555) were examined and established through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between SNPs and gastric cancer. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of rs6983267 in gastric cancer patients were obviously different from those in the control (P = 0.005). GT genotype of rs6983267 was associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer compared with GG genotype (adjusted odds ratio = 2.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-3.14). Further stratified analysis indicated that rs6983267 GT genotype facilitated the risk of gastric cancer of non-cardiac and intestinal type (OR: 2.638, 95% CI: 1.464-4.753; OR: 1.916, 95% CI: 1.166-3.150, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates for the first time that rs6983267 is involved in susceptibility to gastric cancer, although further large-sample investigations are still needed.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the therapeutic potential of adipose-derived stern cells (ADSCs) for limited cutaneous scleroderma (LS) in mouse models. Methods: ADSCs were isolated from pathogen-free female C57BL/6 mice an...Objective: To investigate the therapeutic potential of adipose-derived stern cells (ADSCs) for limited cutaneous scleroderma (LS) in mouse models. Methods: ADSCs were isolated from pathogen-free female C57BL/6 mice and LS was induced in wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice via daily injection of bleomycin (0.1 mL x 300 mu g/mL) for 4 weeks; then the ADSCs were subcutaneously injected into the dorsal area in the model treatment group, and 100 mu L of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution was injected into the same site in the model control group. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used to track the cells using an in vivo imaging system on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after transplantation. All mice were sacrificed and histologic analyses were performed after 4 weeks, and the skin thickness, collagen deposition and the total content of hydroxyproline were evaluated. Additionally, immunohistochemistry were performed to compare the tissue expression and distribution of TGF-beta 1 and VEGF between the ADSCs treatment group and the treatment control group. Results: WT C57BL/6 LS mouse model were successfully established and GFP in vivo fluorescence imaging showed that the translated ADSCs survived at the local for at least 4 weeks. Compared with the control group, the ADSCs treatment group significantly attenuated bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis, reduced the skin thickness and the total content of hydroxyproline (P<0.05). The ADSCs treatment group displayed significantly lower levels of TGF-beta 1 and higher levels of VEGF than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: ADSCs may provide a feasible and practical treatment for autoimmune diseases such as LS and ameliorate dermal fibrosis.展开更多
Objective： To explore whether single and fused monochromatic images can improve liver tumor detection and delineation by single source dual energy CT （ssDECT） in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） durin...Objective： To explore whether single and fused monochromatic images can improve liver tumor detection and delineation by single source dual energy CT （ssDECT） in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） during arterial phase. Methods： Fifty-seven patients with HCC who underwent ssDECT scanning at Beijing Cancer Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. Twenty-one sets of monochromatic images from 40 to 140 keV were reconstructed at 5 keV intervals in arterial phase. The optimal contrast-noise ratio （CNR） monochromatic images of the liver tumor and the lowest-noise monochromatic images were selected for image fusion. We evaluated the image quality of the optimal-CNR monochromatic images, the lowest-noise monochromatic images and the fused monochromatic images, respectively. The evaluation indicators included the spatial resolution of the anatomical structure, the noise level, the contrast and CNR of the tumor. Results： In arterial phase, the anatomical structure of the liver can be displayed most clearly in the 65-keV monochromatic images, with the lowest image noise. The optimal-CNR monochromatic images of HCC tumor were 50-keV monochromatic images in which the internal structural features of the liver tumors were displayed most clearly and meticulously. For tumor detection, the fused monochromatic images and the 50-keV monochromatic images had similar performances, and were more sensitive than 65-keV monochromatic images. Conclusions： We achieved good arterial phase images by fusing the optimal-CNR monochromatic images of the HCC tumor and the lowest-noise monochromatic images. The fused images displayed liver tumors and anatomical structures more clearly, which is potentially helpful for identifying more and smaller HCC tumors.展开更多
Damage to synaptic plasticity induced by neurotoxicity of amyloid-beta is regarded to be one of the pathological mechanisms of learning and memory disabilities in Alzheimer＇s disease patients. This study assumed that...Damage to synaptic plasticity induced by neurotoxicity of amyloid-beta is regarded to be one of the pathological mechanisms of learning and memory disabilities in Alzheimer＇s disease patients. This study assumed that the damage of amyloid-beta to learning and memory abilities was strongly associated with the changes in the Fyn/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B （NR2B） expression. An APP695V7171 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer＇s disease was used and treatment with tetrahydroxy-stilbene glucoside was administered intragas- trically. Results showed that intragastric administration of tetrahydroxy-stilbene glucoside improved the learning and memory abilities of the transgenic mice through increasing NR2B receptors and Fyn expression. It also reversed parameters for synaptic interface structure of gray type I. These findings indicate that tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside has protective effects on the brain, and has prospects for its clinical application to improve the learning and memory abilities and treat Alzheimer＇s disease.展开更多
This study investigated the molecular markers of DS-1-47,a component of an implantation-promoting traditional Chinese medicine consisting of Astragalus mongholicus,Atractylodes macrocephala,Scutellaria baicalensis and...This study investigated the molecular markers of DS-1-47,a component of an implantation-promoting traditional Chinese medicine consisting of Astragalus mongholicus,Atractylodes macrocephala,Scutellaria baicalensis and Dipsacales,in an attempt to clarify the molecular mechanism and action targets of DS-1-47.Controlled ovarian stimulation（COS） method was used to establish the implantation dysfunction models of mice.Animals were divided into normal pregnant group,COS model group and DS-1-47 group.Laser capture microdissection-double dimensional electrophoresis-mass spectrum（LCM-DE-MS） was used to analyze the uterine protein molecules that were possibly involved in the promotion of implantation.Twenty-three proteins in DS-1-47 group were significantly changed as compared to those in COS model group,with 7 proteins down-regulated and 16 proteins up-regulated.Except for some constituent proteins,the down-regulated proteins included collagen α-1（Ⅵ） chain,keratin 7,keratin 14,myosin regulatory light chain 12 B,myosin light polypeptide 9,heat shock protein β-7,and C-U-editing enzyme APOBEC-2;the up-regulated proteins included apolipoprotein A-I,calcium regulated protein-3,proliferating cell nuclear antigen,L-xylulose reductase,and calcium binding protein.These 23 proteins that were regulated by DS-1-47 represented a broad diversity of molecule functions.The down-regulated proteins were associated with stress and immune response,and those up-regulated proteins were related to proliferation.It was suggested that these proteins were important in regulating the uterine environment for the blastocyst implantation.By identification of DS-1-47 markers,proteomic analysis coupled with functional assays is demonstrated to be a promising approach to better understand the molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.展开更多
基金Supported by Beijing Hospitals Authority Youth Program,No.QML20231103Beijing Hospitals Authority Ascent Plan,No.DFL20191103National Key R&D Program of China,No.2023YFC3402805.
文摘BACKGROUND About 10%-31% of colorectal liver metastases(CRLM)patients would concomitantly show hepatic lymph node metastases(LNM),which was considered as sign of poor biological behavior and a relative contraindication for liver resection.Up to now,there’s still lack of reliable preoperative methods to assess the status of hepatic lymph nodes in patients with CRLM,except for pathology examination of lymph node after resection.AIM To compare the ability of mono-exponential,bi-exponential,and stretchedexponential diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)models in distinguishing between benign and malignant hepatic lymph nodes in patients with CRLM who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery.METHODS In this retrospective study,97 CRLM patients with pathologically confirmed hepatic lymph node status underwent magnetic resonance imaging,including DWI with ten b values before and after chemotherapy.Various parameters,such as the apparent diffusion coefficient from the mono-exponential model,and the true diffusion coefficient,the pseudo-diffusion coefficient,and the perfusion fraction derived from the intravoxel incoherent motion model,along with distributed diffusion coefficient(DDC)andαfrom the stretched-exponential model(SEM),were measured.The parameters before and after chemotherapy were compared between positive and negative hepatic lymph node groups.A nomogram was constructed to predict the hepatic lymph node status.The reliability and agreement of the measurements were assessed using the coefficient of variation and intraclass correlation coefficient.RESULTS Multivariate analysis revealed that the pre-treatment DDC value and the short diameter of the largest lymph node after treatment were independent predictors of metastatic hepatic lymph nodes.A nomogram combining these two factors demonstrated excellent performance in distinguishing between benign and malignant lymph nodes in CRLM patients,with an area under the curve of 0.873.Furthermore,parameters from SEM showed substantial repeatability.CONCLUSION The developed nomogram,incorporating the pre-treatment DDC and the short axis of the largest lymph node,can be used to predict the presence of hepatic LNM in CRLM patients undergoing chemotherapy before surgery.This nomogram was proven to be more valuable,exhibiting superior diagnostic performance compared to quantitative parameters derived from multiple b values of DWI.The nomogram can serve as a preoperative assessment tool for determining the status of hepatic lymph nodes and aiding in the decision-making process for surgical treatment in CRLM patients.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.11347026)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province,China (Grant Nos.ZR2020MA085 and ZR2020MF113)。
文摘A new kind of non-Gaussian quantum catalyzed state is proposed via multiphoton measurements and two-mode squeezing as an input of thermal state.The characteristics of the generated multiphoton catalysis output state depends on the thermal parameter,catalyzed photon number and squeezing parameter.We then analyze the nonclassical properties by examining the photon number distribution,photocount distribution and partial negativity of the Wigner function.Our findings indicate that nonclassicality can be achieved through the implementation of multiphoton catalysis operations and modulated by the thermal parameter,catalyzed photon number and squeezing parameter.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82173156Beijing Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding,No.ZYLX202116.
文摘BACKGROUND Programmed death protein(PD)-1 blockade immunotherapy significantly prolongs survival in patients with metastatic mismatch repair-deficient(dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high(MSI-H)gastrointestinal malignancies such gastric and colorectal cancer.However,the data on preoperative immunotherapy are limited.AIM To evaluate the short-term efficacy and toxicity of preoperative PD-1 blockade immunotherapy.METHODS In this retrospective study,we enrolled 36 patients with dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal malignancies.All the patients received PD-1 blockade with or without chemotherapy of CapOx regime preoperatively.PD1 blockade 200 mg was given intravenously over 30 min on day 1 of each 21-d cycle.RESULTS Three patients with locally advanced gastric cancer achieved pathological complete response(pCR).Three patients with locally advanced duodenal carcinoma achieved clinical complete response(cCR),followed by watch and wait.Eight of 16 patients with locally advanced colon cancer achieved pCR.All four patients with liver metastasis from colon cancer reached CR,including three with pCR and one with cCR.pCR was achieved in two of five patients with nonliver metastatic colorectal cancer.CR was achieved in four of five patients with low rectal cancer,including three with cCR and one with pCR.cCR was achieved in seven of 36 cases,among which,six were selected for watch and wait strategy.No cCR was observed in gastric or colon cancer.CONCLUSION Preoperative PD-1 blockade immunotherapy in dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal malignancies can achieve a high CR,especially in patients with duodenal or low rectal cancer,and can achieve high organ function protection.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82170635,No.81822006,and No.81970606Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin,No.20JCYBJC01120.
文摘Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),a leading chronic disease worldwide,affects approximately a quarter of the global population.Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is an advanced form of NAFLD and is more likely to progress to liver fibrosis than simple steatosis.NASH is also identified as the most rapidly growing cause of hepatocellular carcinoma.Although in the past decade,several phase II/III clinical trials have shown promising results in the use of novel drugs targeting lipid synthase,farnesoid X receptor signaling,peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor signaling,hepatocellular injury,and inflammatory signaling,proven pharmaceutical agents to treat NASH are still lacking.Thus,continuous exploration of the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of NAFLD and the identification of novel therapeutic targets remain urgent tasks in the field.In the current review,we summarize studies reported in recent years that not only provide new insights into the mechanisms of NAFLD development but also explore the possibility of treating NAFLD by targeting newly identified signaling pathways.We also discuss evidence focusing on the intrahepatic targets involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD as well as extrahepatic targets affecting liver metabolism and function.
基金Supported by the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation,No.7212068the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81900747.
文摘BACKGROUND The intestinal microcirculation functions in food absorption and metabolic substance exchanges.Accumulating evidence indicates that intestinal microcirculatory dysfunction is a significant source of multiple gastrointestinal diseases.To date,there has not been a scientometric analysis of intestinal microcirculatory research.AIM To investigate the current status,development trends,and frontiers of intestinal microcirculatory research based on bibliometric analysis.METHODS VOSviewer and CiteSpace 6.1.R2 were used to identify the overall characteristics and knowledge map of intestinal microcirculatory research based on the core literature published from 2000 to 2021 in the Web of Science database.The characteristics of each article,country of origin,institution,journal,cocitations,and other information were analyzed and visualized.RESULTS There were 1364 publications enrolled in the bibliometric analysis,exhibiting an upward trend from 2000 to 2021 with increased participation worldwide.The United States and Dalhousie University took the lead among countries and institutions,respectively.Shock was the most prolific journal,and Nature Reviews Microbiology Clinical had the most citations.The topical hotspots and frontiers in intestinal microcirculatory research were centered on the pathological processes of functional impairment of intestinal microvessels,diverse intestinal illnesses,and clinical treatment.CONCLUSION Our study highlights insights into trends of the published research on the intestinal microcirculation and offers serviceable guidance to researchers by summarizing the prolific areas in intestinal disease research to date.
基金supported by the Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Innovation Ability Training Program:Shang-Hua Zhao Academic Experience Research(No.2019PY172).
文摘Background:The Jiawei Yangshen pill enhances sperm abundance.However,the pharmacological mechanism of action of the Jiawei Yangshen pill remains unclear.This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of the Jiawei Yangshen pill in the treatment of dyszoospermia and study the underlying mechanism.Methods:A dyszoospermia model was established by injecting mice with cyclophosphamide(50 mg/kg)consecutively for 7 days.Physiological and pathological indicators of the testis and hormone levels were examined after 4 weeks of treatment.Untargeted metabolomics using high-performance liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry was performed on testis specimens.Network pharmacology analysis was used to construct an“ingredient-target-disease”interactive network,followed by metabolic pathway enrichment analysis.Western blotting was performed to examine the levels of the related proteins.Results:The Jiawei Yangshen pill significantly increased the testis index,epididymal index,sperm count,and testosterone level,while concurrently decreasing sperm mortality and luteinizing hormone levels.The spermatogenic cells in the Jiawei Yangshen pill-treated mice were well arranged with an increased number.Significantly different metabolites were identified.Western blotting showed that the expression levels of p-anti-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/anti-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and p-protein kinase B/protein kinase B were significantly increased after the Jiawei Yangshen pill treatment,whereas the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1 and nuclear factor kappa B(p65)were remarkably decreased.Conclusion:The Jiawei Yangshen pill significantly improved testicular microcirculatory injury and overall metabolic levels in mice with dyszoospermia.
基金This work was supported by the Key Project of the Key R&D Program of the Department of Science and Technology of Shanxi Province(201603D3112002).
文摘Background:Traditional Chinese medicine requires special processing before it can be effectively used for clinical treatment of diseases.In particular,Tangshen stir-fried with wheat bran smoke has been found to enhance the function of the stomach and spleen.However,there is limited research on the technology and pharmacodynamic effects of Tangshen fried with bran.Therefore,the objective of this article is to optimize the method of stir-frying with bran for Tangshen processing and to compare the anti-fatigue and hypoxia-resistance effects of Tangshen before and after bran-frying.Methods:The response surface methodology was utilized to optimize the frying temperature,frying time,and the bran-to-Tangshen ratio,using lobetyolin as the indicator.The swimming time of mice and the levels of blood urea nitrogen,lactate dehydrogenase,and blood glucose in fatigued mice were compared before and after Tangshen was fried with bran.Additionally,the hypoxic resistance ability of Tangshen before and after bran-frying was determined through normobaric hypoxia test and sodium nitrite poisoning test.Results:The optimal bran-frying conditions for Tangshen processing were determined as:frying temperature of 167°C,frying time of 2.67 min,and the bran-to-Tangshen ratio of 50:100.Pharmacodynamic analysis results indicated that Tangshen significantly increased the GLU content(P<0.01)and significantly reduced the LDH content(P<0.01)both before and after bran-frying.While both traditional and new bran-frying methods significantly increased the content of muscle glycogen(P<0.05),the optimized method in this study also significantly elevated the content of liver glycogen(P<0.05).The traditional method significantly prolonged the survival time of mice from sodium nitrite poisoning(P<0.05).Conclusion:The response surface model proved to be highly effective in optimizing the stir-frying process with bran for Tangshen processing.The results of this study indicate that Tangshen possesses anti-fatigue and hypoxia-resistance effects both before and after bran-frying,with bran-fried Tangshen exhibiting significantly stronger effects.
基金the support of the foundation projects:CACMS Innovation Fund(No.CI2021A02606).
文摘Object:The aim is to evaluate how effective Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)is in treating patients who have central retinal vein occlusion with macular edema(CRVO-ME)in a real-world study.Furthermore,the objective of the research was to examine the TCM prescription trends in the management of CRVO-ME.Method:A single-center real-world study(RWS)was carried out over a span of 19 years,following the established design.The study encompassed 113 patients diagnosed with CRVO-ME.Out of these,74 patients received TCM treatment,while the remaining individuals underwent a combined therapy involving TCM and anti-VEGF drugs through intravitreal injection.The patients were matched using propensity score matching(PSM).The result measured in the RWS was BCVA.The oral prescriptions for CRVO-ME that led to observable and effective outcomes were collected.Excel and the TCM Inheritance Auxiliary Platform V2.5 were utilized to optimize mutual information,hierarchical clustering based on entropy,and other techniques to extract medication regulations and features.Result:After applying PSM,each group comprised 29 cases.Both groups exhibited improved BCVA following treatment;however,there was no statistically significant distinction in BCVA or effectiveness between the two groups(all P>0.05).Apart from the analysis of oral prescriptions for CRVO-ME,the investigation pinpointed the most frequently used TCMs,namely Flos Carthami,Semen Persicae,Radix Angelica sinensis,Radix Rehmanniae,and Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng.Frequently utilized medications tended to possess cold,warm,or mild attributes and exhibited a taste profile that was either bitter or sweet.The primary meridians associated with the medicines employed in treating CRVO-ME were liver,spleen,stomach,heart,and lung.Through the application of association rule analysis,it was discerned that there were 195 commonly employed combinations of medicines.Additionally,a complex system entropy cluster analysis unveiled 13 key combinations of medicines.By employing an unsupervised entropy hierarchical clustering analysis,a novel prescription was formulated.Conclusion:Within a real-world population of CRVO-ME patients,TCM exhibited its effectiveness.The treatment approach for CRVO-ME predominantly involved the regulation of qi(Qi is an exceedingly subtle substance within the human body,brimming with vitality and ceaseless motion.It constitutes the fundamental element that shapes and sustains the various processes of human life.)and blood as well as the resolution of dampness.The oral prescriptions frequently targeted the meridians of liver,spleen,stomach,heart,and lungs.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31171427 and No.30971651 to Wang ZXNational Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30700974 to Cao JXPostdoctoral Foundation of China,No.20060400775 to Cao JX
文摘AIM: To investigate whether autologous dendritic cell (DC)-cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy is able to improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy in colon cancer.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81071129,30970825)the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(Grant No.2011CB707705)
文摘Objective： This study investigated the capability of dual-energy spectral computed tomography （CT） to quantitatively evaluate lung perfusion defects that are induced by central lung cancer. Methods： Thirty-two patients with central lung cancer underwent CT angiography using spectral imaging. A univariate general linear model was conducted to analyze the variance of iodine concentration/CT value with three factors of lung fields. A paired t-test was used to compare iodine concentrations and CT values between the distal end of lung cancer and the corresponding area in the contralateral normal lung. Results： Iodine concentrations increased progressively in the far, intermediate and near ground sides in the normal lung fields at 0.60±0.28, 0.93±0.27 and 1.25±0.38 mg/mL, respectively （P〈0.001）. The same trend was observed for the CT values [-（840.64±49.08）, -（812.66±50.85） and -（760.83±89.17） HU, P〈0.001]. The iodine concentration （0.70±0.42 mg/mL） of the lung field in the distal end of lung cancer was significantly lower than the corresponding area in the contralateral normal lung （1.19±0.62 mg/mL） （t=-7.23, P〈0.001）. However, the CT value of lung field in the distal end of lung cancer was significantly higher than the corresponding area in the contralateral normal lung [-（765.29±93.34） HU vs. -（800.07±76.18） HU, t=3.564, P=0.001]. Conclusions： Spectral CT imaging based on the spectral differentiation of iodine is feasible and can quantitatively evaluate pulmonary perfusion and identify perfusion defects that are induced by central lung cancer. Spectral CT seems to be a promising technique for the simultaneous evaluation of both morphological and functional lung information.
基金supported by the Capital Medical Development Foundation(Grant No.2011-2015-02)the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)(Grant No.2011CB707705)the Capital Characteristic Clinical Application Research(Grant No.Z121107001012115)
文摘Objective： To assess if diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance （MR） imaging without apparent diffusion coefficient （ADC） values provides added diagnostic value in combination with conventional MR imaging in the detection and characterization of small nodules in cirrhotic liver. Methods： Two observers retrospectively and independently analyzed 86 nodules （_〈3 em） certified pathologically in 33 patients with liver cirrhosis, including 48 hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） nodules, 13 high-grade dysplastic nodules （HDN）, 10 low-grade dysplastic nodules （LDNs） and 15 other benign nodules. All these focal nodules were evaluated with conventional MR images （Tl-weighted, T2-weighted and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced images） and breath-hold diffusion-weighted images （DWI） （b=500 s/mm2）. The nodules were classified by using a scale of 1-3 （1, not seen; 3, well seen） on DWI for qualitative assessment. These small nodules were characterized by two radiologists. ADC values weren＇t measured. The diagnostic performance of the combined DWI-conventional images and the conventional images alone was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves. The area under the curves （Az）, sensitivity and specificity values for characterizing different small nodules were also calculated. Results： Among 48 HCC nodules, 33 （68.8%） were graded as 3 （well seen）, 6 （12.5%） were graded as 2 （partially obscured）, and 9 weren＇t seen on DWI. Among 13 HDNs, there were 3 （23.1%） and 4 （30.8%） graded as 3 and 2 respectively. Five （50%） of 10 benign nodules were partially obscured and slightly hyperintense. For 86 nodules, the average diagnostic accuracy of combined DWI-conventional images was 82.56%, which was increased significantly compared with conventional MR images with 76.17%. For HCC and HDN, the diagnostic accuracy of combined DWI-conventional images increased from 78.69% to 86.07 %. Conclusions： Diffusion-weighted MR imaging does provide added diagnostic value in the detection and characterization of HDN and HCC, and it may not be helpful for LDN and regenerative nodule （RN） in cirrhotic liver.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （no. 30971636）, and the George H. Whipple Professorship Endowment, and National Science Council, Talwan, China （96-2314-B-182A-023-MY2 and 97- 2314-B-182A-077-MY3）. Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on Asian lournal of Andrology website （http：Hwww.nature.com/aja）.
文摘Androgen and androgen receptor （AR） play important roles in male spermatogenesis and fertility, yet detailed androgen/AR signals in Sertoli cells remain unclear. To identify AR target genes in Sertoli cells, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of testis between mice lacking AR in Sertoli cells （S-AR-/y） and their littermate wild-type （WT） mice. Digital gene expression analysis identified 2276 genes downregulated and 2865 genes upregulated in the S-AR-/y mice testis compared to WT ones. To further nail down the difference within Sertoli cells, we first constructed Sertoli cell line TM4 with stably transfected AR （named as TM4/AR） and found androgens failed to transactivate AR in Sertoli TM4 and TM4/AR cells. Interestingly, additional transient transfection of AR-cDNA resulted in significant androgen responsiveness with TM4/AR cells showing 10 times more androgen sensitivity than TM4 cells. In the condition where maximal androgen response was demonstrated, we then analyzed gene expression and found the expression levels of 2313 genes were changed more than twofold by transient transfection of AR-cDNA in the presence of testosterone. Among these genes, 603 androgen-/ AR-regulated genes, including 164 upregulated and 439 downregulated, were found in both S-AR-/y mice testis and TM4/AR cells. Using informatics analysis, the gene ontology was applied to analyze these androgen-/AR-regulated genes to predict the potential roles of androgen/AR in the process of spermatogenesis. Together, using gene analysis in both S-AR-/y mice testis and TM4/AR cells may help us to better understand the androeen/AR signals in Sertoli cells and their influences in spermatogenesis.
基金Supported by Shanghai "Phosphor" Science Foundation, China, No. 09QB1403100the National High Technology Researchand Development Program of China, No. 2006AA020704 and 2006AA02A407the Funds for Key Programs of Ministry ofHealth of China, No.2008ZX10002-017
文摘AIM: To explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 8q24 and gastric cancer risk. METHODS: A case-control investigation including 212 gastric cancer patients and 377 healthy controls was conducted. The genotypes of SNPs (rs6983267, rs7008482 and rs10808555) were examined and established through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between SNPs and gastric cancer. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of rs6983267 in gastric cancer patients were obviously different from those in the control (P = 0.005). GT genotype of rs6983267 was associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer compared with GG genotype (adjusted odds ratio = 2.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-3.14). Further stratified analysis indicated that rs6983267 GT genotype facilitated the risk of gastric cancer of non-cardiac and intestinal type (OR: 2.638, 95% CI: 1.464-4.753; OR: 1.916, 95% CI: 1.166-3.150, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates for the first time that rs6983267 is involved in susceptibility to gastric cancer, although further large-sample investigations are still needed.
文摘Objective: To investigate the therapeutic potential of adipose-derived stern cells (ADSCs) for limited cutaneous scleroderma (LS) in mouse models. Methods: ADSCs were isolated from pathogen-free female C57BL/6 mice and LS was induced in wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice via daily injection of bleomycin (0.1 mL x 300 mu g/mL) for 4 weeks; then the ADSCs were subcutaneously injected into the dorsal area in the model treatment group, and 100 mu L of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution was injected into the same site in the model control group. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used to track the cells using an in vivo imaging system on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after transplantation. All mice were sacrificed and histologic analyses were performed after 4 weeks, and the skin thickness, collagen deposition and the total content of hydroxyproline were evaluated. Additionally, immunohistochemistry were performed to compare the tissue expression and distribution of TGF-beta 1 and VEGF between the ADSCs treatment group and the treatment control group. Results: WT C57BL/6 LS mouse model were successfully established and GFP in vivo fluorescence imaging showed that the translated ADSCs survived at the local for at least 4 weeks. Compared with the control group, the ADSCs treatment group significantly attenuated bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis, reduced the skin thickness and the total content of hydroxyproline (P<0.05). The ADSCs treatment group displayed significantly lower levels of TGF-beta 1 and higher levels of VEGF than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: ADSCs may provide a feasible and practical treatment for autoimmune diseases such as LS and ameliorate dermal fibrosis.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Grant No. 2011CB707705)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81371715+1 种基金 81201215)the Capital Characteristic Clinical Application Research (Grant No. Z121107001012115)
文摘Objective： To explore whether single and fused monochromatic images can improve liver tumor detection and delineation by single source dual energy CT （ssDECT） in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） during arterial phase. Methods： Fifty-seven patients with HCC who underwent ssDECT scanning at Beijing Cancer Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. Twenty-one sets of monochromatic images from 40 to 140 keV were reconstructed at 5 keV intervals in arterial phase. The optimal contrast-noise ratio （CNR） monochromatic images of the liver tumor and the lowest-noise monochromatic images were selected for image fusion. We evaluated the image quality of the optimal-CNR monochromatic images, the lowest-noise monochromatic images and the fused monochromatic images, respectively. The evaluation indicators included the spatial resolution of the anatomical structure, the noise level, the contrast and CNR of the tumor. Results： In arterial phase, the anatomical structure of the liver can be displayed most clearly in the 65-keV monochromatic images, with the lowest image noise. The optimal-CNR monochromatic images of HCC tumor were 50-keV monochromatic images in which the internal structural features of the liver tumors were displayed most clearly and meticulously. For tumor detection, the fused monochromatic images and the 50-keV monochromatic images had similar performances, and were more sensitive than 65-keV monochromatic images. Conclusions： We achieved good arterial phase images by fusing the optimal-CNR monochromatic images of the HCC tumor and the lowest-noise monochromatic images. The fused images displayed liver tumors and anatomical structures more clearly, which is potentially helpful for identifying more and smaller HCC tumors.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81303097,81373794
文摘Damage to synaptic plasticity induced by neurotoxicity of amyloid-beta is regarded to be one of the pathological mechanisms of learning and memory disabilities in Alzheimer＇s disease patients. This study assumed that the damage of amyloid-beta to learning and memory abilities was strongly associated with the changes in the Fyn/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B （NR2B） expression. An APP695V7171 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer＇s disease was used and treatment with tetrahydroxy-stilbene glucoside was administered intragas- trically. Results showed that intragastric administration of tetrahydroxy-stilbene glucoside improved the learning and memory abilities of the transgenic mice through increasing NR2B receptors and Fyn expression. It also reversed parameters for synaptic interface structure of gray type I. These findings indicate that tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside has protective effects on the brain, and has prospects for its clinical application to improve the learning and memory abilities and treat Alzheimer＇s disease.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No 81373873)
文摘This study investigated the molecular markers of DS-1-47,a component of an implantation-promoting traditional Chinese medicine consisting of Astragalus mongholicus,Atractylodes macrocephala,Scutellaria baicalensis and Dipsacales,in an attempt to clarify the molecular mechanism and action targets of DS-1-47.Controlled ovarian stimulation（COS） method was used to establish the implantation dysfunction models of mice.Animals were divided into normal pregnant group,COS model group and DS-1-47 group.Laser capture microdissection-double dimensional electrophoresis-mass spectrum（LCM-DE-MS） was used to analyze the uterine protein molecules that were possibly involved in the promotion of implantation.Twenty-three proteins in DS-1-47 group were significantly changed as compared to those in COS model group,with 7 proteins down-regulated and 16 proteins up-regulated.Except for some constituent proteins,the down-regulated proteins included collagen α-1（Ⅵ） chain,keratin 7,keratin 14,myosin regulatory light chain 12 B,myosin light polypeptide 9,heat shock protein β-7,and C-U-editing enzyme APOBEC-2;the up-regulated proteins included apolipoprotein A-I,calcium regulated protein-3,proliferating cell nuclear antigen,L-xylulose reductase,and calcium binding protein.These 23 proteins that were regulated by DS-1-47 represented a broad diversity of molecule functions.The down-regulated proteins were associated with stress and immune response,and those up-regulated proteins were related to proliferation.It was suggested that these proteins were important in regulating the uterine environment for the blastocyst implantation.By identification of DS-1-47 markers,proteomic analysis coupled with functional assays is demonstrated to be a promising approach to better understand the molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.
