Serum and Urine Metabolic Fingerprints Characterize Renal Cell Carcinoma for Classification, Early Diagnosis, and Prognosis.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a substantial pathology of the urinary system with a growing prevalence rate. However, current clinical methods have limitations for managing RCC due to the heterogeneity manifestations of the disease. Metabolic analyses are regarded as a preferred noninvasive approach in clinics, which can substantially benefit the characterization of RCC. This study constructs a nanoparticle-enhanced laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (NELDI MS) to analyze metabolic fingerprints of renal tumors (n = 456) and healthy controls (n = 200). The classification models yielded the areas under curves (AUC) of 0.938 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.884-0.967) for distinguishing renal tumors from healthy controls, 0.850 for differentiating malignant from benign tumors (95% CI, 0.821-0.915), and 0.925-0.932 for classifying subtypes of RCC (95% CI, 0.821-0.915). For the early stage of RCC subtypes, the averaged diagnostic sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 91.3% in the test set is achieved. Metabolic biomarkers are identified as the potential indicator for subtype diagnosis (p < 0.05). To validate the prognostic performance, a predictive model for RCC participants and achieve the prediction of disease (p = 0.003) is constructed. The study provides a promising prospect for applying metabolic analytical tools for RCC characterization.

Toward digitally screening and profiling AD: A GAMLSS approach of MemTrax in China.

PURPOSES: To establish a normative range of MemTrax (MTx) metrics in the Chinese population. METHODS: The correct response percentage (MTx-%C) and mean response time (MTx-RT) were obtained and the composite scores (MTx-Cp) calculated. Generalized additive models for location, shape and scale (GAMLSS) were applied to create percentile curves and evaluate goodness of fit, and the speed-accuracy trade-off was investigated. RESULTS: 26,633 subjects, including 13,771 (51.71%) men participated in this study. Age- and education-specific percentiles of the metrics were generated. Q tests and worm plots indicated adequate fit for models of MTx-RT and MTx-Cp. Models of MTx-%C for the low and intermediate education fit acceptably, but not well enough for a high level of education. A significant speed-accuracy trade-off was observed for MTx-%C from 72 to 94. CONCLUSIONS: GAMLSS is a reliable method to generate smoothed age- and education-specific percentile curves of MTx metrics, which may be adopted for mass screening and follow-ups addressing Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive diseases. HIGHLIGHTS: GAMLSS was applied to establish nonlinear percentile curves of cognitive decline. Subjects with a high level of education demonstrate a later onset and slower decline of cognition. Speed-accuracy trade-off effects were observed in a subgroup with moderate accuracy. MemTrax can be used as a mass-screen instrument for active cognition health management advice.

A Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor Reduces Vascular Wall Thickness and Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment in a Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases Rat Model.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a group of diseases that originate from changes in cerebral small vessels and that cause many conditions, such as cognitive impairment. However, there is no effective therapy for these diseases. Recent studies have suggested that inflammation is associated with this disease. Cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) is an inflammatory mediator; however, whether a cox-2 inhibitor could protect against the CSVD progression remains unknown. In the present study, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRsp) were used as a model of CSVD, and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats served as the control. SHRsp were treated with the cox-2 inhibitor celecoxib or vehicle. The Morris water maze test was performed, and vascular morphometry and the expression of collagen I and fibronectin were examined in cerebral small vessels and cerebral tissue. The results revealed that thickened small veesel walls, increased expression of collagen I and fibronectin and impaired cognitive function in SHRsp compared with SD rats. Additionally, celecoxib significantly down-regulated the expression of collagen I and fibronectin, attenuated the increase in vascular wall thickness and ameliorates the cognitive impairment. Our study indicated that this cox-2 inhibitor may serve as a promising candidate for the pharmacological intervention of CSVD.

Calcific emboli originating from the brachiocephalic trunk causing acute cerebral infarction and worm-like calcification in the right middle cerebral artery.

We report, to our knowledge, the first patient with brachiocephalic trunk calcified plaque causing the 'salted pretzel sign' and worm-like calcification. Arterial stenosis or occlusion caused by atherosclerosis and thrombosis are responsible for the majority of cases of cerebral infarction. However, there are a number of other causes. Interestingly, these findings were not observed on a CT scan 10 days before the stroke. Acute cerebral infarction with calcifications on unenhanced head CT scans should raise suspicion for disease in the carotid system. Identification of subtle findings of acute ischemic stroke on CT scans is important for early diagnosis and treatment.