Robust and accurate corneal interfaces segmentation in 2D and 3D OCT images.

Segmentation of corneal layer interfaces in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images is important for diagnostic and surgical purposes, while manual segmentation is a time-consuming and tedious process. This paper presents a novel technique for the automatic segmentation of corneal layer interfaces using customized initial layer estimation and a gradient-based segmentation method. The proposed method was also extended to three-dimensional OCT images. Validation was performed on two corneal datasets, one with 37 B-scan images of healthy human eyes and the other with a 3D volume scan of a porcine eye. The approach showed robustness in extracting different layer boundaries in the low-SNR region with lower computational cost but higher accuracy compared to existing techniques. It achieved segmentation errors below 2.1 pixels for both the anterior and posterior layer boundaries in terms of mean unsigned surface positioning error for the first dataset and 2.6 pixels (5.2 µm) for segmenting all three layers that can be resolved in the second dataset. On average, it takes 0.7 and 0.4 seconds to process a cross-sectional B-scan image for datasets one and two, respectively. Our comparative study also showed that it outperforms state-of-the-art methods for quantifying layer interfaces in terms of accuracy and time efficiency.

Identifying diagnostic indicators for type 2 diabetes mellitus from physical examination using interpretable machine learning approach.

Background: Identification of patients at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can not only prevent complications and reduce suffering but also ease the health care burden. While routine physical examination can provide useful information for diagnosis, manual exploration of routine physical examination records is not feasible due to the high prevalence of T2DM. Objectives: We aim to build interpretable machine learning models for T2DM diagnosis and uncover important diagnostic indicators from physical examination, including age- and sex-related indicators. Methods: In this study, we present three weighted diversity density (WDD)-based algorithms for T2DM screening that use physical examination indicators, the algorithms are highly transparent and interpretable, two of which are missing value tolerant algorithms. Patients: Regarding the dataset, we collected 43 physical examination indicator data from 11,071 cases of T2DM patients and 126,622 healthy controls at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University. After data processing, we used a data matrix containing 16004 EHRs and 43 clinical indicators for modelling. Results: The indicators were ranked according to their model weights, and the top 25% of indicators were found to be directly or indirectly related to T2DM. We further investigated the clinical characteristics of different age and sex groups, and found that the algorithms can detect relevant indicators specific to these groups. The algorithms performed well in T2DM screening, with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) reaching 0.9185. Conclusion: This work utilized the interpretable WDD-based algorithms to construct T2DM diagnostic models based on physical examination indicators. By modeling data grouped by age and sex, we identified several predictive markers related to age and sex, uncovering characteristic differences among various groups of T2DM patients.

ImmunoPET imaging of Trop2 in patients with solid tumours.

Accurately predicting and selecting patients who can benefit from targeted or immunotherapy is crucial for precision therapy. Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) has been extensively investigated as a pan-cancer biomarker expressed in various tumours and plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis through multiple signalling pathways. Our laboratory successfully developed two 68Ga-labelled nanobody tracers that can rapidly and specifically target Trop2. Of the two tracers, [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-T4, demonstrated excellent pharmacokinetics in preclinical mouse models and a beagle dog. Moreover, [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-T4 immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET) allowed noninvasive visualisation of Trop2 heterogeneous and differential expression in preclinical solid tumour models and ten patients with solid tumours. [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-T4 immunoPET could facilitate clinical decision-making through patient stratification and response monitoring during Trop2-targeted therapies.

Pepper vein yellow virus P0 protein triggers NbHERC3, NbBax, and NbCRR mediated hypersensitive response.

P0 proteins encoded by the pepper vein yellow virus (PeVYV) are pathogenic factors that cause hypersensitive response (HR). However, the host gene expression related to PeVYV P0-induced HR has not been thoroughly studied. Transcriptomic technology was used to investigate the host pathways mediated by the PeVYV P0 protein to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying its function. We found 12,638 differentially expressed genes (DEGs); 6784 and 5854 genes were significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Transcriptomic and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analyses revealed that salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis-related gene expression was upregulated, and ethylene synthesis-related gene expression was downregulated. Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify SA and JA concentrations in Nicotiana benthamiana, and the P0 protein induced SA and JA biosynthesis. We then hypothesized that the pathogenic activity of the P0 protein might be owing to proteins related to host hormones in the SA and JA pathways, modulating host resistance at different times. Viral gene silencing suppression technology was used in N. benthamiana to characterize candidate proteins, and downregulating NbHERC3 (Homologous to E6-AP carboxy-terminus domain and regulator of choromosome condensation-1 dmain protein 3) accelerated cell necrosis in the host. The downregulation of NbCRR reduced cell death, while that of NbBax induced necrosis and curled heart leaves. Our findings indicate that NbHERC3, NbBax, and NbCRR are involved in P0 protein-driven cell necrosis.

FAM120A deficiency improves resistance to cisplatin in gastric cancer by promoting ferroptosis.

The occurrence of chemoresistance is an inescapable obstacle affecting the clinical efficacy of cisplatin in gastric cancer (GC). Exploring the regulatory mechanism of cisplatin resistance will help to provide potential effective targets for improving the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Here, we find that FAM120A is upregulated in GC tissues and higher in cisplatin-resistant GC tissues, and its high expression is positively correlated with the poor outcome of GC patients. Functional studies indicate that FAM120A confers chemoresistance to GC cells by inhibiting ferroptosis. Mechanically, METTL3-induced m6A modification and YTHDC1-induced stability of FAM120A mRNA enhance FAM120A expression. FAM120A inhibits ferroptosis by binding SLC7A11 mRNA and enhancing its stability. FAM120A deficiency enhances cisplatin sensitivity by promoting ferroptosis in vivo. These results reveal the function of FAM120A in chemotherapy tolerance and targeting FAM120A is an effective strategy to alleviate cisplatin resistance in GC.

Aneurinibacillus uraniidurans sp. nov., a uranium-resistant bacterium isolated from uranium-contaminated soil.

A novel Gram-positive strain, B1T, was isolated from uranium-contaminated soil. The strain was aerobic, rod-shaped, spore-forming, and motile. The strain was able to grow at 20-45 °C, at pH 6.0-9.0, and in the presence of 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl. The complete genome size of the novel strain was 3 853 322 bp. The genomic DNA G+C content was 45.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain B1T has the highest similarity to Aneurinibacillus soli CB4T (96. 71 %). However, the novel strain showed an average nucleotide identity value of 89.02 % and a digital DNA-DNA hybridization value of 37.40 % with strain CB4T based on the genome sequences. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The predominate respiratory quinone was MK7. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid were identified as the major polar lipids. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic analyses showed that strain B1T represents a novel species of the genus Aneurinibacillus, for which the name Aneurinibacillus uraniidurans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1T (=GDMCC 1.4080T=JCM 36228T). Experiments have shown that strain B1T demonstrates uranium tolerance.

Clinical utility of office hysteroscopy following failed in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite its widespread use, in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes are challenged by implantation failure, largely due to factors such as embryo quality and endometrial receptivity. In this study, we investigated the clinical effect of office hysteroscopy (OH) on the subsequent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in infertile women who experienced a failed IVF-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle. METHODS: We included 577 infertile women who underwent OH because of a history of failed ET between October 2019 and September 2021. During OH, visible endometrial polyps (EPs) were diagnosed and removed by curette or biopsy forceps; chronic endometritis (CE) was diagnosed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry and treated with oral doxycycline (0.2 g/d) for 14 days. According to the hysteroscopic findings and endometrial pathology with immunohistochemistry, patients were divided into three groups: group A (n = 161) had CE with or without EPs, group B (n = 156) had EPs only, and group C (n = 260) had no CE or EPs. RESULTS: In the following FET cycle, the implantation rates were 47%, 51%, and 45% (P = 0.411); the clinical pregnancy rates were 56%, 62%, and 55% (P = 0.436); the live birth rates were 45%, 51%, and 42% (P = 0.205); and the miscarriage rates were 18%, 16%, and 22% (P = 0.497) in groups A, B, and C, respectively. There were no significant differences among groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: OH is helpful for diagnosis and treatment of abnormal intrauterine environment in women with a failed IVF cycle and further improves their pregnancy outcome in the following FET.

PBDB-T/Pentacene-Based Organic Optoelectronic Synaptic Transistor with Adjustable Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency for Dynamic Vision.

In the era of the Internet of Things and the rapid progress of artificial intelligence, there is a growing demand for advanced dynamic vision systems. Vision systems are no longer confined to static object detection and recognition, as the detection and recognition of moving objects are becoming increasingly important. To meet the requirements for more precise and efficient dynamic vision, the development of adaptive multimodal motion detection devices becomes imperative. Inspired by the varied response rates in biological vision, we introduce the concept of critical flicker fusion frequency (cFFF) and develop an organic optoelectronic synaptic transistor with adjustable cFFF. In situ Kelvin probe force microscopy analysis reveals that light signal recognition in this device originates from charge transfer in the poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene)-co-(1,3-di(5-thiophene-2-yl)-5,7-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c']dithiophene-4,8-dione)] (PBDB-T)/pentacene heterojunction, which can be effectively modulated by gate voltage. Building upon this, we implement different cFFF within a single device to facilitate the detection and recognition of objects moving at different speeds. This approach allows for resource allocation during dynamic detection, resulting in a reduction in power consumption. Our research holds great potential for enhancing the capabilities of dynamic visual systems.

A convenient protonated strategy for constructing nanodrugs from hydrophobic drug-inhibitor conjugates to reverse tumor multidrug resistance.

Combination therapy has proven effective in counteracting tumor multidrug resistance (MDR). However, the pharmacokinetic differences among various drugs and inherent water insolubility for most small molecule agents greatly hinder their synergistic effects, which makes the delivery of drugs for combination therapy in vivo a key problem. Herein, we propose a protonated strategy to transform a water-insoluble small molecule drug-inhibitor conjugate into an amphiphilic one, which then self-assembles into nanoparticles for co-delivery in vivo to overcome tumor MDR. Specifically, paclitaxel (PTX) is first coupled with a third-generation P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor zosuquidar (Zos) through a glutathione (GSH)-responsive disulfide bond to produce a hydrophobic drug-inhibitor conjugate (PTX-ss-Zos). Subsequently treated with hydrochloric acid ethanol solution (HCl/EtOH), PTX-ss-Zos is transformed into the amphiphilic protonated precursor and then forms nanoparticles (PTX-ss-Zos@HCl NPs) in water by molecular self-assembly. PTX-ss-Zos@HCl NPs can be administered intravenously and accumulated specifically at tumor sites. Once internalized by cancer cells, PTX-ss-Zos@HCl NPs can be degraded under the overexpressed GSH to release PTX and Zos simultaneously, which synergistically reverse tumor MDR and inhibit tumor growth. This offers a promising strategy to develop small molecule self-assembled nanoagents to reverse tumor MDR in combination therapy.

A promising future of metal-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes in medicinal chemistry: The emerging bioorganometallic antitumor agents.

Metal complexes based on N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have emerged as promising broad-spectrum antitumor agents in bioorganometallic medicinal chemistry. In recent decades, studies on cytotoxic metal-NHC complexes have yielded numerous compounds exhibiting superior cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin. Although the molecular mechanisms of these anticancer complexes are not fully understood, some potential targets and modes of action have been identified. However, a comprehensive review of their biological mechanisms is currently absent. In general, apoptosis caused by metal-NHCs is common in tumor cells. They can cause a series of changes after entering cells, such as mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) variation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cytochrome c (cyt c) release, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, lysosome damage, and caspase activation, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the influence of metal-NHCs on cancer cell apoptosis is crucial. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent advances in metal-NHC complexes that trigger apoptotic cell death via different apoptosis-related targets or signaling pathways, including B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2 family), p53, cyt c, ER stress, lysosome damage, thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibition, and so forth. We also discuss the challenges, limitations, and future directions of metal-NHC complexes to elucidate their emerging application in medicinal chemistry.

Assembly of Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Complexation Fibers with Mineralization Gradient for Physiologically-Inspired Ligament Regeneration.

Current synthetic grafts for ligament rupture repair often fail to integrate well with the surrounding biological tissue, leading to complications such as graft wear, fatigue, and subsequent re-rupture. To address this medical challenge, this study aims at advancing the development of a biological ligament through the integration of physiologically-inspired principles and tissue engineering strategies. In this study, interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation (IPC) spinning technique, along with a custom-designed collection system, to fabricate a hierarchical scaffold mimicking native ligament structure, is utilized. To emulate the bone-ligament interface and alleviate stress concentration, a hydroxyapatite (HAp) mineral gradient is strategically introduced near both ends of the scaffold to enhance interface integration and diminish the risk of avulsion rupture. Biomimetic viscoelasticity is successfully displayed to provide similar mechanical support to native ligamentous tissue under physiological conditions. By introducing the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and conducting mesenchymal stem cells transplantation, the regenerative potential of the synthetic ligament is significantly amplified. This pioneering study offers a multifaceted solution combining biomimetic materials, regenerative therapies, and advanced techniques to potentially transform ligament rupture treatment.

Dual-channel mechano-phosphorescence: a combined locking effect with twisted molecular structures and robust interactions.

Organic mechanoluminescence materials, featuring dual emission and ultralong phosphorescence characteristics, exhibit significant potential for applications in real-time stress sensing, pressure-sensitive lighting, advanced security marking techniques, and material breakage monitoring. However, due to immature molecular design strategies and unclear luminescence mechanisms, these materials remain rarely reported. In this study, we propose a valuable molecular design strategy to achieve dual-channel mechano-phosphorescence. By introducing the arylphosphine oxide group into a highly twisted molecular framework, enhanced intra- and intermolecular interactions could be achieved within rigid structures, leading to dual-channel mechanoluminescence with greatly promoted ultralong phosphorescence. Further investigations reveal the substantial boosting effect of intra- and intermolecular interactions on mechanoluminescence and ultralong phosphorescence properties by locking the highly twisted molecular skeleton. This work provides a concise and guiding route to develop novel smart responsive luminescence materials for widespread applications in material science.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-α therapy may not be safe during pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel disease: an updated meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) affects reproductive-aged women. Active disease can lead to decreased fertility. Although the vast majority of international guidelines recommend for the continuation of anti-TNF-α during pregnancy, recent studies have raised concerns about the safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) therapy during pregnancy, both for patients and for physicians. METHODS: Studies that evaluate the safety of anti-TNF-α therapy in pregnant women with IBD were identified using bibliographical searches. An updated meta-analysis was performed for pregnancy outcomes, such as live birth, abortion, still birth, preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital abnormalities, and neonatal infection. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) are reported. Data on disease activity, timing of anti-TNF-α therapy were collected for further analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 11 studies were screened from on-line databases and international meeting abstracts. An increased risk of abortion (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02-1.74; P = 0.04) and preterm birth (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05-1.28; P = 0.004), and a decreased risk of live birth (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74-0.94; P = 0.002]) were found in the anti-TNF-α therapy group compared with the control group (no use of anti-TNF-α therapy). The subgroup analyses based on the disease activity showed there is no significant association between the use of anti-TNF-α therapy during pregnancy on adverse pregnancy outcomes of abortion, preterm birth, and live birth. The rates of still birth, low birth weight, and congenital abnormalities in the anti-TNF-α therapy group were not significantly different from those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-TNF-α therapy does not increase the risks of still birth, low birth weight, and congenital abnormalities; however it may be assicated with increased risks of abortion and preterm birth, which are accompanied by a lower rate of live birth. Although these findings may be confounding by potential disease activity, they offer some opposite viewpoints with biologic agent use. Therefore, more studies are required to further confirm the safety of anti-TNF-α therapy in pregnancy with IBD.

In vivo evaluation of safety and performance of a tapered nitinol venous stent with inclined proximal end in an ovine iliac venous model.

A tapered stent with inclined proximal end is designed for fitting the iliac anatomically. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and performance of the new stent in ovine left iliac veins. The experiment was performed in 30 adult sheep, and one nitinol-based VENA-BT® iliac venous stent (KYD stent) was implanted into each animal's left common iliac vein. Follow-up in all sheep consisted of angiographic, macroscopic, and microscopic examinations at Day 0 (< 24 h), Day 30, Day 90, Day 180 and Day 360 post-stenting (six animals per each time-point). 30 healthy ~ 50 kg sheep were included in this study and randomly divided into five groups according to the follow-up timepoint. All stents were implanted successfully into the left ovine common iliac vein. No significant migration occurred at follow-up. There is no statistically significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05), indicating no serious lumen loss occurred during the follow-up period. Common iliac venous pressure was further measured and the results further indicated the lumen patency at follow-up. Histological examinations indicated that no vessel injury and wall rupture, stent damage, and luminal thrombus occurred. There was moderate inflammatory cell infiltration around the stent in Day-0 and Day-30 groups with the average inflammation score of 2.278 and 2.167, respectively. The inflammatory reaction was significantly reduced in Day-90, Day-180 and Day-360 groups and the average inflammation scores were 0.9444 (p < 0.001, Day-90 vs Day-0), 1.167 (p < 0.001, Day-180 vs Day-0) and 0.667 (p < 0.001, Day-90 vs Day-0), respectively. The microscopic examinations found that the stents were well covered by endothelial cells in all follow-up time points. The results suggested that the KYD stent is feasible and safe in animal model. Future clinical studies may be required to further evaluate its safety and efficacy.

Application of a circular-shaped pulsed field ablation catheter with magnetic sensors for pulmonary vein isolation: a multi-centre clinical study report.

AIMS: A few studies have reported the effect and safety of pulsed field ablation (PFA) catheters for ablating atrial fibrillation (AF), which were mainly based on basket-shaped or flower-shaped designs. However, the clinical application of a circular-shaped multi-electrode catheter with magnetic sensors is very limited. To study the efficacy and safety of a PFA system in patients with paroxysmal AF using a circular-shaped multi-electrode catheter equipped with magnetic sensors for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). METHODS AND RESULTS: A novel proprietary bipolar PFA system was used for PVI, which utilized a circular-shaped multi-electrode catheter with magnetic sensors and allowed for three-dimensional model reconstruction, mapping, and ablation in one map. To evaluate the efficacy, efficiency, and safety of this PFA system, a prospective, multi-centre, single-armed, pre-market clinical study was performed. From July 2021 to December 2022, 151 patients with paroxysmal AF were included and underwent PVI. The study examined procedure time, immediate success rate, procedural success rate at 12 months, and relevant complications. In all 151 patients, all the pulmonary veins were acutely isolated using the studied system. Pulsed field ablation delivery was 78.4 ± 41.8 times and 31.3 ± 16.7 ms per patient. Skin-to-skin procedure time was 74.2 ± 29.8 min, and fluoroscopy time was 13.1 ± 7.6 min. The initial 11 (7.2%) cases underwent procedures with deep sedation anaesthesia, and the following cases underwent local anaesthesia. In the initial 11 cases, 4 cases (36.4%) presented transient vagal responses, and the rest were all successfully preventatively treated with atropine injection and rapid fluid infusion. No severe complications were found during or after the procedure. During follow-up, 3 cases experienced atrial flutter, and 11 cases had AF recurrence. The estimated 12-month Kaplan-Meier of freedom from arrhythmia was 88.4%. CONCLUSION: The PFA system, comprised of a circular PFA catheter with magnetic sensors, could rapidly achieve PVI under three-dimensional guidance and demonstrated excellent safety with comparable effects.

[Characteristics of Microplastic Pollution in Sediment of Silty Coast in Culture Bay].

Microplastic pollution is a central issue of great concern in the current environmental field. Microplastic pollution in marine environmental media is widely reported, but the characteristics of microplastic pollution in deep sediments are rarely reported. Based on this, three sampling points were set up on the muddy coast near the Haizhou Bay, a typical aquaculture sea area, to analyze the characteristics of microplastic pollution in sediment column samples. The study showed that the abundance of microplastics in the sediments of the study area was(0.12 ± 0.07)n·g-1, which was at the medium pollution level. The total amount of microplastics in the sediment column was 3.43-6.00 times the abundance of microplastics in the surface sediment (5 cm). The abundance of microplastics in the sediment column samples showed regional differences. There was no significant difference in the abundance of microplastics in the sediment at different depths, but the index decreased with the increase in depth. The relationship between sediment moisture content, depth, and microplastics indicated that the abundance of microplastics in sediment was related to the physical properties of the sediment. Transparent and black microplastics accounted for the highest proportion in each station. Fiber was the most common form of microplastics in the sediment, and microplastics with small particle size accounted for the majority. The density of microplastics did not prevent its appearance in the sediment. The pollution characteristics of microplastics varied greatly in different depths of sediments.

Head to head comparison of 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT with 18F-FDG PET/CT in primary and metastatic lesions of gastric tumor: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aims to head to head compare the application of gallium-68-fibroblast activation proteininhibitor (68Ga-FAPI) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT in primary and metastatic lesions of gastric tumor to determine the superior diagnostic tool. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search, up to March 31, 2023, across PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases utilized a data-specific Boolean logic strategy. Sensitivity (SEN) and specificity (SPE) evaluations of 68Ga-FAPI and 18F-FDG PET/CT in gastric cancer lesions were conducted. The quality of the studies was assessed using QUADAS-2, and publication bias was examined through Begg and Egger tests. RESULTS: Analysis involved 141 gastric tumor patients and 2753 metastatic lesions in five studies, with overall satisfactory study quality and no apparent publication bias. Patient-level data showed a combined SEN of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90-0.98) for 68Ga-FAPI and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77-0.89) for 18F-FDG. At the lesion level, combined SENs were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.84-0.96) for 68Ga-FAPI and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63-0.80) for 18F-FDG. The pooled SEN for detecting lymph node metastases was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.74-0.82) for 68Ga-FAPI and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.30-0.39) for 18F-FDG, with pooled SPE values of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-0.99) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96-0.98), respectively. For detecting distant metastases, pooled SEN values were 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96-0.98) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.66-0.72) for 68Ga-FAPI and 18F-FDG, with pooled SPE values of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82-0.89) and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.59-0.68), respectively. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis concluded that 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT was significantly more sensitive than 18F-FDG PET/CT in assessing primary gastric tumors, lymph nodes, and distant metastases, but the difference in the specificity of lymph node metastasis was not significant.

Effects of moxibustion on intestinal barrier function and TLR4/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway in obese rats. / è‰¾ç¸å¯¹è‚¥èƒ–å¤§é¼ è‚ é“å±éšœåŠŸèƒ½åŠTLR4/NF-κB p65信号通路的影响.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effects of moxibustion on intestinal barrier function and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) signaling pathway in obese rats and explore the mechanism of moxibustion in the intervention of obesity. METHODS: Fifty-five Wistar rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a normal group (10 rats) and a modeling group (45 rats). In the modeling group, the obesity model was established by feeding high-fat diet. Thirty successfully-modeled rats were randomized into a model group, a moxibustion group, and a placebo-control group, with 10 rats in each one. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion was applied at the site 3 cm to 5 cm far from the surface of "Zhongwan" (CV 12), with the temperature maintained at (46±1 ) ℃. In the placebo-control group, moxibustion was applied at the site 8 cm to 10 cm far from "Zhongwan" (CV 12), with the temperature maintained at (38±1) ℃. The intervention was delivered once daily for 8 weeks in the above two groups. The body mass and food intake of the rats were observed before and after intervention in each group. Using ELISA methool, the levels of serum triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were detected and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of colon tissue. The mRNA expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, Claudin-1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the colon tissue was detected by quantitative real-time PCR; and the protein expression of ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 was detected by Western blot in the rats of each group. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the body mass, food intake, the level of HOMA-IR, and the serum levels of TC, TG and LPS were increased in the rats of the model group (P<0.01); those indexes in the moxibustion group were all reduced when compared with the model group and the placebo-control group respectively (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, a large number of epithelial cells in the mucosa of colon tissue was damaged, shed, and the inflammatory cells were infiltrated obviously in the interstitium in the rats of the model group. When compared with the model group, in the moxibustion group, the damage of the colon tissue was recovered to various degrees and there were few infiltrated inflammatory cells in the interstitium, while, the epithelial injury of the colon tissue was slightly recovered and the infiltrated inflammatory cells in the interstitium were still seen in the placebo-control group. The mRNA and protein expressions of ZO-1, Occludin and Caudin-1 were decreased in the model group compared with those in the normal group (P<0.01). When compared with the model group and the placebo-control group, the mRNA and protein expressions of these indexes were increased in the moxibustion group (P<0.01, P<0.05). In the model group, the mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 were increased when compared with those in the normal group (P<0.01), and the mRNA and protein expressions of these indexes were reduced in the moxibustion group when compared with those in the model group and the placebo-control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Moxibustion can reduce the body mass and food intake, regulate the blood lipid and improve insulin resistance in the rats of obesity. It may be related to alleviating inflammatory response through improving intestinal barrier function and modulating the intestinal TLR4/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway.