White matter hyperintensities combined with serum NLRP3 in diagnosis of cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease.

Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are widely used for the diagnosis of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). However, whether NLRP3 is correlated with cognitive impairment after CSVD is still not clear.Objective: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of WMHs combined with NLRP3 for cognitive impairment after CSVD.Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled a total of 188 CSVD patients from September 2019 to May 2022. All patients received brain MRI assessment and WMH Fazekas score, as well as WMH volume, was recorded. Serum NLRP3 level was measured by ELISA. Patients' cognitive function was measured by MoCA after 6 months of diagnosis of CSVD. The serum levels of C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density leptin cholesterol (HDL) and low-density leptin cholesterol (LDL) were recordedResults: CSVD patients with cognitive impairment had significantly higher Fazekas scores, WMH volumes, serum NLRP3 and IL-6 levels compared to patients without cognitive impairment. A positive correlation was found among Fazekas scores, WMH volumes and NLRP3 levels. The combination of WMH volume and NLRP3 could achieve a better specificity for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Coronary syndrome history, WMH volume and NLRP3 were found as independent risk factors for cognitive impairment after CSVD.Conclusion: Fazekas scores, WMH volume and serum NLRP3 levels are associated with cognitive impairment after CSVD and have the potential to be used as diagnostic biomarkers.

The piperazine compound ASP activates an auxin response in Arabidopsis thaliana.

BACKGROUND: Auxins play key roles in the phytohormone network. Early auxin response genes in the AUX/IAA, SAUR, and GH3 families show functional redundancy, which makes it very difficult to study the functions of individual genes based on gene knockout analysis or transgenic technology. As an alternative, chemical genetics provides a powerful approach that can be used to address questions relating to plant hormones. RESULTS: By screening a small-molecule chemical library of compounds that can induce abnormal seedling and vein development, we identified and characterized a piperazine compound 1-[(4-bromophenoxy) acetyl]-4-[(4-fluorophenyl) sulfonyl] piperazine (ASP). The Arabidopsis DR5::GFP line was used to assess if the effects mentioned were correlated with the auxin response, and we accordingly verified that ASP altered the auxin-related pathway. Subsequently, we examined the regulatory roles of ASP in hypocotyl and root development, auxin distribution, and changes in gene expression. Following ASP treatment, we detected hypocotyl elongation concomitant with enhanced cell elongation. Furthermore, seedlings showed retarded primary root growth, reduced gravitropism and increased root hair development. These phenotypes were associated with an increased induction of DR5::GUS expression in the root/stem transition zone and root tips. Auxin-related mutants including tir1-1, aux1-7 and axr2-1 showed phenotypes with different root-development pattern from that of the wild type (Col-0), and were insensitive to ASP. Confocal images of propidium iodide (PI)-stained root tip cells showed no detectable damage by ASP. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analyses of two other genes, namely, Ethylene Response Factor (ERF115) and Mediator 18 (MED18), which are related to cell regeneration and damage, indicated that the ASP inhibitory effect on root growth was not attributable to toxicity. RT-qPCR analysis provided further evidence that ASP induced the expression of early auxin-response-related genes. CONCLUSIONS: ASP altered the auxin response pathway and regulated Arabidopsis growth and development. These results provide a basis for dissecting specific molecular components involved in auxin-regulated developmental processes and offer new opportunities to discover novel molecular players involved in the auxin response.

Diagnostic and prediction value of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging in acute ischemic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Current knowledge regarding synthetic magnetic resonance imaging in ischemic stroke (MAGiC) is inadequate. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic prediction value of MAGiC in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled 197 AIS patients between January 2022 and May 2023. All patients underwent routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans, doppler ultrasound, MAGiC, and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-ch), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-ch), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) were also measured, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to evaluate stroke severity. RESULTS: T2 and proton density (PD) values were markedly lower in severe patients than in mild-to-moderate patients, and the DCE-MRI Ktrans value was substantially higher in severe patients compared to mild-to-moderate patients. Furthermore, T2 and PD correlated negatively, while Ktrans correlated positively with CRP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) showed T2 and Ktrans to have the best diagnostic potential as MAGiC and DCE-MRI parameters, respectively. As such, combining T2 and Ktrans could improve severe stroke diagnosis accuracy. Moreover, TG, LDL-ch, CRP, T2, and Ktrans were independent risk factors for severe stroke. CONCLUSIONS: T2 and PD MAGiC parameters and the DCE-MRI Ktrans parameter could be used as indices to predict severe stroke, while combining T2 and Ktrans might provide better diagnostic accuracy.

[Evolution rules and clinical value of apparent diffusion coefficient in cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rules that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) changes with time and space in cerebral infarction, and to provide the evidence in defining the stage, guiding treatment or judging the prognosis in infarction. METHODS: Eighty-eight work-ups in 69 patients with cerebral infarction (8 hyperacute, 35 acute, 20 subacute, and 25 chronic infarctions) were imaged with both conventional MRI and diffusion weighted imaging. The average ADC, the average relative ADC (rADC), and the ADC or rADC from the center to the periphery of the lesion were calculated. RESULTS: The average ADC and the average rADC of hyperacute and acute infarction lesion depressed obviously. The average ADC and the average rADC of subacute infarction lesion were significantly higher than those of hyperacute and acute infarction lesion (P < 0.05), and some approached the values of uninjured side which appeared "pseudonormal values" at 10 to 14 days. The average ADC and the average rADC in chronic infarction lesion were the highest (P < 0.05). The longer the prognosis, the higher the average ADC and the average rADC of infarction lesion. The ADC and the rADC in 7 hyperacute and 26 acute lesions had gradient signs that these lesions increased from the center to the periphery. The ADC and the rADC in 15 subacute lesions had adverse gradient signs that these lesions decreased from the center to the periphery. CONCLUSION: The ADC and the rADC of infarction lesions have evolution rules with time and space corresponding to the pathophysiological foundation. The evolution rules with time and those in space can be helpful to decide the clinical stage and pathophysiological phase of infarction, and to provide the evidence in guiding the treatment or judging the prognosis in infarction.