OBJECTIVE: In recent years, some evidence has been presented among control angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation, and migraine. The aim of this study is to compare ACE and MTHFR with the migraine control group and to understand the relationship between them. STUDY DESIGN: This study was conducted between September 2012 and January 2013 at the Department of Neurology, Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine. This study consisted of 219 individuals, 119 (mean age 39.4 +/- 10.8) of whom were migraine patients and the remaining 100 (mean age 35.5 +/- 11.6) of whom made up the control group. In the evaluation of ACE genotype, polymerase chain reaction was determined using realtime PCR technique. RESULTS: The frequency of DD, ID, and II genotypes in the patient group was 33.0%, 61.5%, and 5.2%, respectively, while it was 53.6%, 43.6%, and 2.6% in the control group. It has been statistically shown that the ID genotype in the patient group was highly meaningful as compared to that in the control group. No risk difference has been witnessed both with aura and without aura in the migraine group as compared to the ACE gene DD, ID, and II polymorphism and MTHFR mutations. CONCLUSION: ID genotype was observed frequently in migraine (with and without aura). When the ACE gene was compared with DD, ID, and II polymorphisms and MTHFR mutations, no correlation was detected with or without aura. In our population, no significant increase in the D allele in the ACE gene and MTHFR T mutation was detected.
OBJECTIVE: Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline antibiotic, is a potent and indispensable chemotherapeutic drug that has adverse outcomes associated with it, such as nephrotoxicity. Cinnamon, however, is a strong free radical scavenger antioxidant against oxidative stress-associated pathologies. The current study aims to investigate the protective effects of antioxidant compounds of cinnamon spice on DOX-induced nephropathy (DIN). STUDY DESIGN: Male albino Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 6 each) as control (no treatment was performed), sham (olive oil for 14 days 1 mL/kg by oral gavage), cinnamon bark oil (CO) (100 mg/kg cinnamon dissolved in olive oil and given by oral gavage for 14 days), DOX (10 mg/kg, a single dose was given intraperitoneally on the eighth day), and DOX + CO groups. Histopathological, electron microscopic, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses were performed on the liver tissues of the rats. RESULTS: The results of light and electron microscopy analysis showed severe kidney tissue damage after DOX treatment. Significantly increased transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) expression, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and decreased catalase (CAT) enzyme activity were observed due to DOX. Biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations revealed that concomitant cinnamon administration together with DOX significantly reversed DIN. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that cinnamon has histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical protective effects on DOX-induced nephropathy.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of cyclic RNA (circRNA) ATPase phospholipid transporting 9B gene (circATP9B) on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocyte (H9C2) injury and the possible mechanism. STUDY DESIGN: RT-qPCR was adopted for quantification of circATP9B and miR-525-5p in H/R-induced H9C2 cells, and dual luciferase reporter and RT-qPCR assays were used for targeting relationship verification between the two. H9C2 cells were assigned to the control, H/R, H/R +si-NC, H/R+si-circATP9B, H/R+ miR-NC, H/R+miR-525-5p, H/R+si-circATP9B +antimiR-NC, and H/R+ si-circATP9B +anti-miR-525-5p groups. Then flow cytometry was utilized for cell apoptosis determination, and corresponding kits were used for quantification of MDA content and SOD and GSH-Px activities. RESULTS: CircATP9B bound to miR-525-5p directly and negatively regulated miR-525-5p. In contrast to the control group, the H/R group presented notable increases in circATP9B expression, apoptosis rate, and MDA content and notable decreases in miR-525-5p expression, and SOD and GSH-Px activities. The H/R+ si-circATP9B group presented greatly lower MDA concentration and apoptosis and greatly higher GSH-Px and SOD activities than the H/R+si-NC group. Additionally, the H/R+miR-525-5p group showed greatly lower MDA concentration and apoptosis and greatly higher GSH-Px and SOD activities than the H/R+miR-NC group, and the H/R+si-circATP9B +anti-miR-525-5p group presented notably higher MDA concentration and apoptosis and greatly lower GSH-Px and SOD activities than the H/R+si-circATP9B +anti-miR-NC group. CONCLUSION: Interfering with circATP9B can alleviate apoptosis as well as oxidative stress injury of H/R-induced cardiomyocytes via negative regulation on miR-525-5p.
OBJECTIVE: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis, and oxidative stress and systemic inflammation are the possible pathogenesis. The elevated gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is closely related to oxidative stress and the markers of systemic inflammation. We focused on the baseline data of GGT in KD patients and analyzed the relationship between GGT variation and the risk of coronary artery injury in KD. STUDY DESIGN: KD patients of Children's Hospital of Soochow University during March 1, 2016, to April 30, 2020, were used in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into high and low GGT groups according to the median of GGT (M=21.8). We compared the differences in laboratory characteristics between groups and analyzed the risk factors of coronary artery abnormalities. RESULTS: A total of 1,293 patients were included in this study. After being grouped according to the 2 classifications of GGT, the high GGT group showed more cases of coronary artery abnormalities and higher GGT, ALT, TBIL, and neutrophil ratio (all p <0.05). Meanwhile, patients with high GGT showed higher immune status, and elevated GGT was a risk factor for coronary artery damage in KD (OR 1.008, 95% CI 1.006-1.010, p <0.001), together with total bilirubin (OR 0.964, 95% CI 0.964-0.981, p <0.001), CRP (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.001-1.006, p=0.01), and Hgb (OR 0.985, 95% Cl 0.973-0.997, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: In this study, high GGT was a risk factor for coronary artery damage in KD. Therefore, clinicians should pay attention to the level of GGT. It is necessary to increase the frequency of follow-up, strengthen the education of parents, and carefully check echocardiograms in cases of KD with elevated GGT.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of losartan treatment on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury-induced ovarian tissue by immunohistochemical techniques. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty Sprague Dawley female rats were categorized into 3 groups: sham, ischemiareperfusion (I/R), and I/R+Losartan groups. Ovaries were processed for malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and histological tissue protocol. RESULTS: MDA, GSH, and MPO values in control, I/R, and I/R+Losartan groups were compared. Both MDA and MPO values were increased in the I/R group as compared to the control and I/R+ Losartan groups. GSH content was increased in the I/R+ Losartan group as compared to I/R groups. The control group showed regular ovarian histology. Degenerated follicles, leukocyte infiltration and edema, apoptotic stromal cells, and vascular dilation and congestion were found in the I/R group. There was apoptotic appearance in connective tissue cells in the stromal area. Losartan mostly restored the I/R injury-induced ovarian histology. Fas expression was observed only in some connective tissue cells in the control group; however, it was positive in granulosa cells and stromal cells and endothelial cells in the I/R group. In the I/R +Losartan group, FAS expression was mostly negative. eNOS expression was positive in only some granulosa cells. In the I/R group, intense eNOS expression was observed in theca follicle cells, some granulosa cells, and inflammatory cells. In the I/R+ Losartan group, eNOS expression was observed in some connective tissue cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: It is thought that losartan may reduce lipid peroxidation by acting on oxidative stress in the I/R stage and may act to stop the development of degenerative cell apoptosis by affecting the inflammation induced in cell signaling. It has been predicted that the application of losartan may contribute to the development of follicle cells in the ovary and to the preservation of ovarian reserve.
Background: To evaluate the effect of transcatheter therapies combining with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment on hepatocellular necrosis, apoptosis and proliferation by using the rabbit VX2 tumor model. Methods: Ninety six models were randomly divided into 4 groups: transcatheter arterial chemoembolization group (TACE), radiofrequency ablation group (RFA), TACE+RFA group and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) + RFA group. The above groups were further divided into two subgroups, A (15 rabbits) and B (9 rabbits). The subgroup B (control group) was followed up until animal death. Results: The high expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was observed in the adjacent liver tissue in TACE and TACE+RFA. The highest increase of transaminase levels and serum HSP70 were detected in TACE+RFA group. TAE+RFA group had a low apoptotic rate and more hepatocyte proliferation as compared to TACE and TACE+RFA groups; and it had the longest end-point survival among these groups. Conclusions: The TAE+RFA treatment had a better outcome than RFA, including a better liver tumor control, a less liver injury , and a longer survival than TACE+RFA . Compared to TACE and TACE+RFA procedures , TAE+RFA significantly decreased the liver injury, hepatocellular necrosis, apoptosis and systemic proinflammatory cytokine release caused by anticancer drugs application.
OBJECTIVE: Circulating miR-181a was considered to be a potential novel biomarker for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but we know nothing about the role of miR-181a in AMI. STUDY DESIGN: Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect miRNA or mRNA expression. ELISA assay was used to measure serological index, and western blot was used to measure protein expression. RESULTS: Serum miR-181a in AMI patients was not only significantly higher than that in unstable angina (UA) patients and healthy people but had a positive correlation with serum CK-MB and cTnl but had a negative correlation with IL-6, CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta. In THP-1 cells, miR-181a was targeted to suppress the NF-kappa B pathway by promoting the expression of SIRT1. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of AMI patients, the serum miR-181a was positively correlated with the expression of SIRT1 mRNA but negatively correlated with p65 mRNA. In PBMCs of healthy people, overexpression of miR-181a by transferring miR-181a-mimic could increase the expression of SIRT1. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that miR-181a regulated NF-kappa B-mediated PBMC inflammation by targeting SIRT1, and promotion of miR-181a expression might provide a new target for anti-inflammatory therapy for AMI.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the indexes and methods for evaluating the fatigue degree of oral and maxillofacial muscle groups quickly and effectively based on the multiparameter information of surface electromyography (EMG) in different parts. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen healthy volunteers (8 male and 8 female) were enrolled in the study of surface electromyographic activities of anterior temporal muscle (TA) and masseter muscle (MM) maximum occlusion at the intercuspal position. The largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE), median frequency (MDF), mean power frequency (MPF), and root mean square (RMS) value of surface EMG of masseter muscle and anterior temporal muscle at different time points were analyzed and calculated. Muscle fatigue was evaluated by McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) score. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), the area under the curve (AUC) was used to seek the optimal correlation index of muscle fatigue degree, and we further explored the corresponding detection method, detection site, and gender caused by the difference. RESULTS: The RMS values of the left and right sides of the anterior temporal muscle were significantly different at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 45 minutes between male and female, but the parameters of the left and right sides of masseter muscles were significantly different only at some time points. In terms of distinguishing the left and right oral and maxillofacial muscle groups, there were significant differences in the RMS of the left and right masseter muscles at multiple time points without distinguishing the gender groups. When differentiating the male and female sexes, the detection of the left and right masseter muscle fatigue degree by RMS electromyography at the long-term observation points also showed a good statistical significance. In terms of MPQ score and evaluation statistics, the RMS of the right temporal anterior muscle was better than the LLE. The RMS of the right EMG of the anterior temporal muscle is a good indicator, especially in the short-term muscle fatigue period and long-term muscle fatigue period. The LLE of the left temporal anterior muscle was better than the RMS. The RMS of the right masseter muscle was better than the LLE. RMS of left masseter muscle was better than the LLE overall. CONCLUSION: The RMS parameter was a good indi- cator for gender differentiation, distinguishing different parts, and evaluating muscle fatigue.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of simple drug therapy, B-ultrasound guided paraverte-bral block (PVB), and plasma thermocoagulation of dor-sal root ganglion (DRG) in the treatment of intercostal postherpetic neuralgia (iPHN). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 120 patients with acute iPHN were divided into oral administration therapy group (group A), thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) therapy group (group B), and DRG block combined with low-temperature plasma thermocoagulation ther-apy group (group C). Group A was treated with anti-viral therapy combined with analgesic drugs, group B with B-ultrasound-guided TPVB on the basis of group A, and group C with DRG block combined with low-temperature plasma thermocoagulation on the basis of group A. We analyzed the pain scores by using numeric rating scales (NRSs) at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 after treat-ment and sleep quality at weeks 2 and 4 after treatment. Finally, the drug-related adverse reactions or complica-tions were recorded. RESULTS: At weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 after treatment the NRS scores of groups B and C were significantly lower than that of group A, and the NRS score of group C was slightly lower than that of group B. The difference was statistically significant. After weeks 2 and 4 of treat-ment, the sleep quality of groups B and C were promi-nently better than that of group A, and the sleep quality of group C was better than that of group B; the differ-ence was statistically significant. There were no post-operative complications in groups B and C. However, some patients in group C experienced hypoesthesia in the skin that received thermocoagulation, but no influ-ence on life and no painful numbness. Collectively, no significant difference was identified in the incidence of adverse reactions or complications among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: All 3 treatment methods have cer-tain clinical efficacy for iPHN, which can effectively relieve the pain caused by herpes zoster and improve sleep. Among them, DGR block combined with low-temperature plasma thermocoagulation may have better clinical application significance.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of cyclic RNA (circRNA) ATPase phospholipid transporting 9B gene (circATP9B) on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocyte (H9C2) injury and the possible mechanism. STUDY DESIGN: RT-qPCR was adopted for quantification of circATP9B and miR-525-5p in H/R-induced H9C2 cells, and dual luciferase reporter and RT-qPCR assays were used for targeting relationship verification between the two. H9C2 cells were assigned to the control, H/R, H/R +si-NC, H/R+si-circATP9B, H/R+ miR-NC, H/R+miR-525-5p, H/R+si-circATP9B +antimiR-NC, and H/R+ si-circATP9B +anti-miR-525-5p groups. Then flow cytometry was utilized for cell apoptosis determination, and corresponding kits were used for quantification of MDA content and SOD and GSH-Px activities. RESULTS: CircATP9B bound to miR-525-5p directly and negatively regulated miR-525-5p. In contrast to the control group, the H/R group presented notable increases in circATP9B expression, apoptosis rate, and MDA content and notable decreases in miR-525-5p expression, and SOD and GSH-Px activities. The H/R+ si-circATP9B group presented greatly lower MDA concentration and apoptosis and greatly higher GSH-Px and SOD activities than the H/R+si-NC group. Additionally, the H/R+miR-525-5p group showed greatly lower MDA concentration and apoptosis and greatly higher GSH-Px and SOD activities than the H/R+miR-NC group, and the H/R+si-circATP9B +anti-miR-525-5p group presented notably higher MDA concentration and apoptosis and greatly lower GSH-Px and SOD activities than the H/R+si-circATP9B +anti-miR-NC group. CONCLUSION: Interfering with circATP9B can alleviate apoptosis as well as oxidative stress injury of H/R-induced cardiomyocytes via negative regulation on miR-525-5p.
OBJECTIVE: Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hUC-MSCs) are a kind of multipotent cells with strong differentiation potential in vitro. With characteristics of low immunogenicity, hUC-MSCs have attracted much attention. This study aims to explore the feasibility of hUC-MSCs differentiating into corneal epithelial-like cells. STUDY DESIGN: hUC-MSCs were cultured in the conditioned medium from rabbit corneal epithelial cells. The induced hUC-MSCs were identified by immunofluorescence staining. The hUC-MSCs were inoculated on corneal stromal laminas and attached to the denuded posterior surface of the rabbit corneas. Rabbits received laminas with and without hUC-MSCs (hUC-MSCs and control group). Hematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescence staining with transmission electron microscopy were carried out to evaluate corneal damage. RESULTS: The hUC-MSCs were morphologically spindle shaped, and rabbit corneal epithelial cells were cobblestone-like shaped. Cultivated hUC-MSCs were positive for CD44, CD29, and CD105 but negative for CD45 and CD34. The induced hUC-MSCs expressed CK3/12, CK14, CK19, and PNCA with corneal epithelial cell characteristics. Importantly, corneal transparency gradually recovered in the hUC-MSC group with decreased corneal opacity and neovascularization. CONCLUSION: Collectively, hUC-MSCs have the potential to differentiate into corneal epithelial cells, providing an accessibly alternative therapeutic source of stem cells for replacement of the corneal epithelium by tissue engineering technology.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hemostatic effect and clinical prognosis of restricted rehydration combined with gastroscopy in the treatment of gastroesophageal varicose bleeding caused by portal hypertension (PHT) in cirrhosis. STUDY DESIGN: Forty liver cirrhotic patients with PHT and gastroesophageal variceal bleeding were divided into observation (n= 21) and control (n= 19) groups. The observation group was treated with early restricted rehydration and drugs, and 72 hours after the bleeding stopped, enhanced computed tomography portal venography was completed, and then the varicose veins were treated by gastroscopy under general anesthesia. The control group was treated with the same drugs and routine fluid replacement, then emergency gastroscope hemostasis was performed within 24-48 hours under waking state. RESULTS: After treatment 24 hours after admission, the observation group received rehydration, blood transfusion, and sodium chloride significantly less than the control group. The 2 groups were significantly different in terms of hematemesis or melena, lactic acid level, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. There was no difference in blood pressure between groups. The operation time of the observation group was significantly less than that of the control group. There were no intraoperative hemorrhage cases, no fever after treatment, no spontaneous peritonitis cases, no hepatic encephalopathy and ectopic embolism cases, and no rebleeding after operation. At 6 months' follow-up the variceal oblitera-tion rate was 100%, with no rebleeding or death cases, while in the control group bleeding occurred in 14 pa-tients during the operation, among which in 2 patients the bleeding failed to be stopped by gastroscopy. Postoperative rebleeding occurred in 3 patients, spontaneous peritonitis in 3 patients, hepatic encephalopathy in 2 patients, and cerebral infarction in 1 patient. After 6 months of follow-up 15 patients had varicose vein obliterated, and 3 cases had rebleeding. No patients died in either group. CONCLUSION: Restricted rehydration combined with gastroscopy in the treatment of PHT in cirrhosis with esophagogastric variceal bleeding can improve hemostatic effect, improve clinical prognosis, and reduce the risk of rebleeding.
In recent years, insulin and insulin-like growth factor have been widely used in the diagnosis, condition evaluation, treatment monitoring, and prognosis judgment of various clinical diseases. It has important clinical potential value to study the molecular mechanism related to insulin and insulin-like growth factor. It has been proved that insulin and insulin-like growth factor are closely related to the occurrence and development of cancer, diabetes, and aging. In this paper, the research progress of insulin and insulin-like growth factor is further elaborated, and the mechanism of action of insulin and insulin-like growth factor and the prospect of clinical application in the future are discussed.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate correlation of levels of plasma D-dimer, fibrinogen, and homocysteine (Hcy) with migraine. STUDY DESIGN: This is a case-control study. A total of 268 migraine patients who presented at the Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, from September 2016 to January 2021 were selected as the migraine group, while 150 healthy individuals during the same period were selected as the control group. They underwent medical history and demographic data collection as well as comprehensive neurological physical examination, and they all received various biochemical indexes measurement. Multi-factor logistic regression and ROC curve area analysis were applied to determine the correlation between levels of plasma D-dimer, fibrinogen, Hcy, and migraine by comparing the general clinical data and the blood biochemical parameters between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The levels of plasma D-dimer, fibrinogen, and Hcy were higher in the migraine group than those in the control group (p <0.05). Multi-factor logistic regression analysis revealed elevated levels of plasma D-dimer, fibrinogen, and Hcy as risk factors for migraine. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for the prediction of migraine by plasma D-dimer was 0.711(95% CI 0.661 similar to 0.761, p <0.05), with a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 55%, and optimal diagnostic value of 0.255 mu g/mL. The area under the curve for the prediction of migraine by fibrinogen was 0.764 (95% CI 0.716-0.811, p <0.05), with a sensitivity of 65%, specificity of 85%, and optimal diagnostic value of 4.295 g/L. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of plasma D-dimer, fibrinogen, and Hey are independent risk factors for migraine. Plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen are predictive of migraine. In general, levels of plasma D-dimer, fibrinogen, and Hcy may be biomarkers of migraine.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of platycodin D (PD) on multiplication, migration, and invasiveness of laryngeal carcinoma (LC) cells and the possible mechanisms. STUDY DESIGN: Cultured in vitro, LC TU686 cells were assigned into control group (CG), PD group with different doses (12.5, 25, and 50 mu mol/L), miR-423-5p group, and 50 mu mol/L PD+anti-miR-423-5p group. Determination of cell multiplication employed CCK-8 and clone formation assays, and the identification of cell migration and invasiveness employed Transwell. Expression of miR-423-5p and MTA2 protein in cells were measured by RT-qACR and western blotting, respectively, and the targeting connection between them was identified via dual luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS: Compared with the CG, the cell vitality, number of cloned, migrating, and invading TU686 cells, as well as MTA2 protein expression in the PD group at each dose (12.5, 25, and 50 mu mol/L) declined (p <0.05), while 43-2.5p increased (p <0.05). The vitality, number of cloned, migrating, and invading TU686 cells, as well as MTA2 protein decreased in the miR-423-5p group (p <0.05) versus the CG. MTA2 was identified as the target gene of miR-423-5p. In comparison with the 50 mu mol/L PD group, the activity, clone formation, migration, and invasiveness of TU686 cells, as well as the MTA2 protein expression in the 50 mu mol/L PD + antimiR-423-5p group increased (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: A certain dose of PD can hinder LC cell multiplication, migration, and invasiveness, the mechanism of which may be related to the targeted regulation of the miR-423-5p/MTA2 axis.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Yanghe Pingchuan granules on asthmatic rats and its influence on Th17/Treg balance. STUDY DESIGN: SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, low, medium, and high dose Chinese medicine groups, and positive medicine group, with 6 rats in each group (total of 36 rats). Except for the normal group, allergic asthma was induced in the other groups to establish a bronchial asthma model. Then Yanghe Pingchuan granules were administered via gavage with low, medium, and high concentrations; the positive drug group was given dexamethasone; and the normal and model groups were given isometric normal saline for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the airway of the model group had obvious pathological changes, accompanied by more inflammatory cell infiltration. The counts of inflammatory cells in the BALF of the model group were significantly increased. The content of Th17 cells in the spleen was significantly increased, while the content of Treg cells was significantly reduced, and the Th17/Treg ratio was also significantly increased. The serum IL-17 in the model group and the level of ROR gamma t protein and gene in lung tissue was significantly increased, and the level of serum IL-10, Foxp3 protein and gene in lung tissue was significantly decreased. Compared with the model group, the airway pathological damage of the traditional Chinese medicine group and the positive drug group was improved, and the inflam-matory cell infiltration was reduced. The difference in Eos and Lym counts in the BALF between the high-medium dose group and the positive drug group was statistically significant, and the traditional Chinese med-icine was high. The difference in Neu counts in BALF between the dose group and the positive drug group was statistically significant. The content of Th17 cells in the spleen was significantly reduced, while the content of Treg cells was significantly increased and Th17/Treg also significantly decreased. Serum IL-17 and lung tis-sue ROR gamma t protein levels were significantly decreased in the Chinese medicine and positive drug groups, and serum IL-10, lung tissue Foxp3 protein and gene levels were significantly increased. The level of ROR gamma t gene in lung tissue of the high and medium dose group and positive drug group was significantly reduced, and the level of ROR gamma t gene in lung tissue of the low dose group of Chinese medicine was reduced. CONCLUSION: Yanghe Pingchuan granules can improve the symptoms of asthmatic rats by regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R), type I thrombospondin 7A domain (THSD7A), immunoglobulin subtype (IgG4) in the renal tissue, as well as the expression levels and clinical significance of serum anti-PLA2R antibody and anti-THSD7A antibody in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 32 patients with IMN, 32 patients with secondary membranous nephropathy (SMN), and 32 patients with minimal change nephropathy/disease (MCD) who were diagnosed by renal biopsy and admitted to the Department of Nephrology of the Affiliated Hospital of Putian University were selected. Quantum dot fluorescence quantitative method and indirect immunofluorescence method were used to detect the titer levels of anti-PLA2R antibody (PLA2R-Ab) and anti-THSD7A antibody (THSD7A-Ab) in serum. Immunofluorescence method and immunohistochemistry method were used to detect the expression of glomerular PLA2R, THSD7A, and IgG4 and to verify the clinical data of each group. RESULTS: The serum PLA2R-Ab level and the positive rate of patients in the IMN group were significantly higher than those in the SMN and MCD groups. PLA2R-Ab level was positively correlated with 24-hour urinary protein quantity and negatively correlated with serum albumin level. In addition, immunofluorescence expression intensity and positive rate of glomerular PLA2R, THSD7A, and IgG4 in the IMN group were notably higher than those in the SMN and MCD groups. Since the detection data of THSD7A-Ab was lower than the detective limit of the kit, no positive expression was detected. CONCLUSION: The detection of serum PLA2R-Ab and glomerular PLA2R, THSD7A, and IgG4 levels was of high value to the clinical diagnosis of IMN for adults and can be used for the differential diagnosis of diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To explore and analyze the early and late efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in patients with vascular stenosis of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 83 patients treated for maintenance hemodialysis and accompanied with vascular stenosis of AVF simultaneously were chosen for this research. They were randomly divided into observation group (n=43) and control group (n=40). We treated the control group with ultrasound-guided plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA), and the observation group with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) PTA with high-pressure balloon. Subsequently, the surgical effect, hemodialysis before and after surgery, postoperative complications, and recurrence rate of AVF in the follow-up period were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The observation group had substantially higher surgical success rate, lower numbers of intraoperative balloon dilation, and higher intraoperative balloon pressure than the control group. The inner diameter of postoperative arteriovenous vessels and the hemodialysis blood flow of the 2 groups were remarkably higher than those before operation, while the post-operative peak velocity decreased obviously as compared to before operation; the diameter of postoperative vascular stenosis and the hemodialysis blood flow in the observation group were notably higher than those in the control group, and the postoperative peak velocity was remarkably lower than that in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in surgical complications between the 2 groups. The incidence in the observation group within 6 months and 12 months after surgery was critically lower than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: The IVUS-guided PTA has dramatic effects on AVF, and the application of high-pressure balloon has a higher success rate. Patients have apparently increased vessel diameter and hemodialysis blood flow, and lower long-term restenosis rate by the treatment, which is safe and valuable in clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE: The main goal is the early detection of neoplasia patterns through the quantification of DNA in Feulgen-stained sample images through deep learning methods. STUDY DESIGN: Comparison of U-Net and Attention U-Net for image semantic segmentation, employing ResNet18 and ResNet34 as their backbones. The presented approaches for both binary and multi-class segmentation tasks were also verified. The evaluation was conducted at two image resolutions: 600x800 pixels and 1200x1600 pixels, resulting in a total of 16 experiments. Our dataset contains 1,010 images. RESULTS: Best results were achieved with Attention U-Net employing a ResNet18 as its backbone, with 600x 800 as image resolution. This architecture achieved an intersection over union (IoU) of 0.809. In the multiclass segmentation, the best results were achieved with the U-Net, employing a ResNet18 as its backbone, and an image field resolution of 600x800, resulting in an IoU of 0.638. CONCLUSION: Semantic segmentation using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) showed to be a robust approach. Experimental results demonstrate the validity of the use of these networks as a promising solution for the automated segmentation of cell nuclei. These approaches have potential to be employed as a step of a possible pipeline for nuclei segmentation.
OBJECTIVE: Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia may lead to kernicterus, which is a global disease with a high mortality rate. Athetosis is one of the clinical manifestations of nervous system sequelae in kernicterus which resulted from the damage in the striatum of basal ganglia caused by unconjugated bilirubin crossing the blood-brain barrier. This disease significantly reduces the quality of children's lives. However, there is no specific and effective treatment for athetosis. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-nine rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: Control group (n= 7), Model group (n=11), and rTMS group (n=11). The Model and rTMS groups received an injection of 10 mu g/g body weight of bilirubin solution into the cerebellomedullary cistern, and the Control group received the injection of the same amount of normal saline. Gait analysis was performed, and BNDF and dopamine were measured before (19 days of age) and after (26 days of age) rTMS treatment. RESULTS: Bilirubin injection induced abnormal neurobehavioral changes, such as opisthotonos, lateral position, clenched fists, and no response to external stimuli. What's more, bilirubin also induced incoordination of the movements, including shorter step (gait) length and larger difference between left and right steps. rTMS treatment reversed the incoordination of the movements induced by bilirubin. More importantly, rTMS treatment induced the expression of dopamine in the striatum. CONCLUSION: Bilirubin injection could be used to establish the experimental model of kernicterus disease, and rTMS treatment improved the coordination of the movements and induced the expression of dopamine. All these results suggest that rTMS has the potential to be used in the treatment of kernicterus disease.
