Renal anatomical classification systems cannot predict the occurrence of vascular complications after partial nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between renal tumor complexity and vascular complications after partial nephrectomy using PADUA, RENAL, and ZS scores. METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2018, a total of 1917 patients with available cross-sectional imaging were enrolled in the study. Logistic regressions were used to identify independent predictors of vascular complications. RESULTS: Of 1917 patients, 31 (1.6%) developed vascular complications, including 10 females and 21 males. The high-complexity category was significantly associated with a decreased risk of vascular complication in PADUA (OR = 0.256; 95%CI = 0.086-0.762; P = 0.014) and ZS score (OR = 0.279; 95%CI = 0.083-0.946; P = 0.040). Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy were independent risk factors for vascular complications. Meanwhile, the incidence was significantly reduced in the recent 4 years in the high score tumor group alone in PADUA (0.2% [1/474] vs. 2.2% [3/139], P = 0.038) and ZS score (0.2% [1/469] vs. 2.7% [3/112], P = 0.024). In the first 8 years, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy were the only two independent risk factors for vascular complications. In the recent 4 years, only the high-complexity category was significantly associated with a decreased risk of vascular complication in the PADUA score (OR = 0.110; 95%CI = 0.013-0.938; P = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The renal anatomic classification system cannot predict the occurrence of vascular complications after partial nephrectomy.

METS-IR/HOMA-IR and MAFLD in U.S. adults: dose-response correlation and the effect mediated by physical activity.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), a globally prevalent disease, is closely linked to insulin resistance (IR). Physical activity (PA) is closely linked to both MAFLD and IR. We aim to explore the dose-response relationship between metabolic score for IR (METS-IR)/homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) and MAFLD, and investigate the relationship between PA, IR and MAFLD. METHODS: Participants from the NHANES study were included in this cross-section study. Logistic regression and the receiver operating characteristic were used to assess the predictive performance of METS-IR/HOMA-IR for MAFLD. Restrictive cubic splines were performed to visualize their dose-response relationship. Decision tree analysis was used to identify high-risk populations of MAFLD. PA's mediating effect in the association between METS-IR/HOMA-IR and MAFLD was also examined. RESULTS: Of all 1,313 participants, 693 had MAFLD (52.78%). There were a positive association between METS-IR (OR = 1.162, 95% CI = 1.126-1.199) and HOMA-IR (OR = 1.630, 95% CI = 1.431-1.856) and MAFLD risk. The AUCs of the METS-IR and HOMA-IR were 0.831 (0.809, 0.853) and 0.767 (0.741, 0.791), respectively, with significantly different predictive performance (P < 0.001). Adding METS-IR/HOMA-IR to the basic model greatly improved the statistical significance for MAFLD. Five high-risk subgroups were identified for MAFLD. PA mediated about 0.81% and 0.78% (indirect effect/total effect) in the association between METS-IR/HOMA-IR and MAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: MAFLD risk might be predicted by METS-IR/HOMA-IR, among which METS-IR performed better. And PA mediated the association between them. More attention should be paid to the therapeutic effect of lifestyle changes on MAFLD. HIGHLIGHTS: 1. Positive associations were found between METS-IR and HOMA-IR and MAFLD risk. 2. METS-IR has better predictive performance for MAFLD risk than HOMA-IR. 3.Two high-risk subgroups were identified for MAFLD by METS-IR: individuals with METS-IR ≥ 40; Hispanic black individuals with 34 ≤ METS-IR < 40 and aged ≥ 46. 4. In the significant association between METS-IR/HOMA-IR and MAFLD, about 0.81% and 0.78% (indirect effect/total effect), respectively, were mediated by physical activity.

New Invasive Leaf Gall-Inducing Wasps Ophelimus cracens sp. nov. and Epichrysocharis burwelli on Eucalypts in Taiwan.

We identified two gall-inducing wasp species infesting eucalypts leaves, including an undescribed species, Ophelimus cracens sp. nov., and Epichrysocharis burwelli, which is a new record for Taiwan. The major hosts of O. cracens were Eucalyptus grandis, Eu. urophylla, and Eu. camaldulensis (Myrtaceae). We observed failed galls of O. cracens at an early stage on Eu. amplifolia and Corymbia maculata. All O. cracens adults discovered on infected leaves were females, and four parasitoid species were identified in samples collected from two cities, three counties, and four municipalities across Taiwan. Epichrysocharis burwelli was exclusively found on C. citriodora in Hsinchu, Nantou, and Tainan Cities. This marks the first record of Ep. burwelli in Asia, accompanied by the identification of one parasitoid species. The adult longevity of adults which emerged from their major hosts, when provided with honey-water solution, was 5.5 days for O. cracens and 5.7 days for Ep. burwelli. Recognizing the potential damage by these wasps on Eucalyptus production areas in the absence of parasitoids, further investigations of their biology and control are warranted.

Diverticular peroral endoscopic myotomy (D-POEM) for symptomatic oesophageal diverticulum: a multicentre cohort study with a minimum follow-up of 3 years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the medium- and long-term outcomes of diverticular peroral endoscopic myotomy (D-POEM) for symptomatic oesophageal diverticulum. METHODS: Consecutive patients with symptomatic oesophageal diverticulum who underwent D-POEM from 1st May 2016 to 1st April 2020 in 6 centres were extracted and researched. Symptoms assessed by the modified Eckardt score were registered pre- and post-D-POEM at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients with Zenker's diverticulum (ZD, n = 12), mid-oesophageal diverticulum (MED, n = 12), and epiphrenic diverticulum (ED, n = 10) were included. Complete septotomy was achieved in a mean of 39.15 min, with 100% technical success. No severe intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. Five patients exhibited subcutaneous emphysema, while 1 had mucosal injury. The mean Eckardt score was 8.59 preoperatively and 2.56 at 1 month, 2.09 at 6 months, 2.21 at 12 months, 2.15 at 24 months, and 2.21 at 36 months postoperatively. The total clinical success rates at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months postoperatively were 97.1%, 97.1%, 94.1%, 91.2%, and 88.2%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 47.2 months, four patients suffered symptom relapse, with a total clinical success rate of 88.2%. A long disease duration, a high Eckardt score, and coexistence of achalasia were identified as risk factors for symptomatic recurrence by multivariable Cox analysis. CONCLUSIONS: D-POEM is an effective and durable treatment for patients with symptomatic oesophageal diverticulum.

Using the deformity index of vital structures to predict outcome of patients with large vestibular schwannomas after Gamma Knife radiosurgery.

PURPOSE: Microsurgery is the mainstay of treatment for large vestibular schwannomas (VS), but the benefits of radiosurgery remain incompletely defined. Here, we aim to use automated volumetric analysis software to quantify the degree of brain stem deformity to predict long-term outcomes of patients with large VS following GKRS. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2020, 39 patients with large VS (volume > 8 cc) undergoing GKRS with a margin dose of 10-12 Gy were analyzed. The reconstruction 3D MRI was used to evaluate the extent of deformity for predicting the long-term outcome of patients. RESULTS: Their mean tumor volume was 13.7 ± 6.3 cc, and their mean follow-up after GKRS was 86.7 ± 65.3 months. Favorable clinical outcome was observed in 26 (66.7%) patients, while 13 (33.3%) patients had treatment failure. Patients with small tumor volumes, low vital structure deformity indice [(TV/(BSV + CerV) and (TV + EV)/(BSV + CerV)], and long distance of tumor to the central line were more likely to have favorable clinical outcome after GKRS. Significant prognostic value was with tumor shrinkage ratio (< 50%) were CV, CV/TV, TV/CerV, (TV + EV)/(BSV + CerV), and the distance of tumor to the central line. In cox regression, favorable clinical outcome was correlated with the Charlson comorbidity index and cochlear dosage (both p < 0.05). In multivariant analysis, tumor regression was highly correlated with the CV/TV ratio (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The brainstem deformity ratio is likely a useful index to assess the clinical and tumor regression outcomes. Clinical outcomes are multifactorial and the tumor regression was highly correlated with the ratio of cystic components.

Interleukin-21 modulates balance between regulatory T cells and T-helper 17 cells in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Chronic HBV infection is always accompanied by differences in the balance between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T-helper 17 (Th17) cells in infection phases. IL-21 plays an important role in the progression of chronic HBV infection. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the role of the regulatory function of IL-21 in maintaining the balance between Tregs and Th17 cells in chronic HBV infection. METHODS: Twenty-five chronic HBV-infected patients in the immune-tolerant (IT) phase and 23 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were recruited in this study. Cytokines production was measured by ELISA. The mRNA expression levels were determined by qPCR. CD4+T cells were stimulated with or without IL-21. Tregs and Th17 cells were measured by flow cytometry. pSTAT3 and STAT3 expression was assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS: The concentration of IL-21 in the serum of CHB were significantly higher than that in the serum from IT patients, and IL-21 and IL-21R levels in the PBMCs from CHB were higher than those from IT patients. IL-21 promoted Th17 cells differentiation and function but inhibited Treg cells differentiation and function by activating STAT3 signaling pathways, upregulating RORγt expression, downregulating Foxp3 expression, by increasing IL-17and IL-22 secretion, and decreasing TGF-ß secretion in chronic HBV infection. The proportion of Tregs and TGF-ß concentrations in CHB was significantly lower than that in IT patients. Furthermore, the percentage of Th17 cells and the IL-17 concentration in CHB was markedly higher than that in IT patients, causing a reduction in the Tregs/Th17 ratio in CHB patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that IL-21 may contribute to inflammation in chronic HBV infection by modulating the balance between Treg and Th17 cells.

Using Ultrahigh b -Value Diffusion-Weighted Imaging to Noninvasively Assess Renal Fibrosis in a Rabbit Model of Renal Artery Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of diffusion-weighted imaging with ultrahigh b values ( ub DWI) for the evaluation of renal fibrosis (RF) induced by renal artery stenosis (RAS) in a rabbit model. METHODS: Thirty-two rabbits underwent left RAS operation, whereas 8 rabbits received sham surgery. All rabbits underwent ub DWI ( b = 0-4500 s/mm 2 ). The standard apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC st ), molecular diffusion coefficient ( D ), perfusion fraction ( f ), perfusion-related diffusion coefficient ( D *) and ultrahigh apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC uh ) were longitudinally assessed before operation and at weeks 2, 4, and 6 after operation. The degree of interstitial fibrosis and the expression of aquaporin (AQP) 1 and AQP2 were determined through pathological examination. RESULTS: In the stenotic kidney, the ADC st , D , f , and ADC uh values of the renal parenchyma significantly decreased compared with those at baseline (all P < 0.05), whereas the D * values significantly increased after RAS induction ( P < 0.05). The ADC st , D , D *, and f were weakly to moderately correlated with interstitial fibrosis as well as with the expression of AQP1 and AQP2. Furthermore, the ADC uh negatively correlated with interstitial fibrosis ( ρ = -0.782, P < 0.001) and positively correlated with AQP1 and AQP2 expression ( ρ = 0.794, P < 0.001, and ρ = 0.789, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Diffusion-weighted imaging with ultrahigh b values shows the potential for noninvasive assessment of the progression of RF in rabbits with unilateral RAS. The ADC uh derived from ub DWI could reflect the expression of AQPs in RF.

Comparison of the new self-contained darkroom refractive screener versus table-top autorefractor and cycloplegia retinoscopy in detecting refractive error.

PURPOSE: By comparing the results of the new self-contained darkroom refractive screener (YD-SX-A) versus table-top autorefractor and cycloplegic retinoscopy, to evaluate the performance of the YD-SX-A in detecting refractive error in children and adolescents and then judge whether it can be used in refractive screening. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. 1000 participants between the ages of 6 and 18 who visited the Optometry Center of the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from June to December 2022 were selected. First, participants were instructed to measure their diopter with a table-top autorefractor (Topcon KR8800) and YD-SX-A in a noncycloplegic setting. After cycloplegia, they were retinoscopy by a professional optometrist. The results measured by three methods were collected respectively. To avoid deviation, only the right eye (1000 eyes) data were used in the statistical analysis. The Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement of diopters measured by the three methods. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to analysis effectiveness of detecting refractive error of YD-SX-A. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 10.77 ± 3.00 years, including 504 boys (50.4%) and 496 girls (49.6%). When YD-SX-A and cycloplegia retinoscopy (CR) were compared in the myopia group, there was no statistical difference in spherical equivalent (SE) (P > 0.05), but there was a statistical difference in diopter spherical (DS) and diopter cylinder (DC) (P < 0.05). Comparing the diopter results of Topcon KR8800 and CR, the difference between each test value in the myopia group was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the hyperopia group, the comparison between YD-SX-A and CR showed no statistically significant differences in the DC (P > 0.05), but there were significant differences in the SE and DS (P < 0.05). In the astigmatism group, the SE, DS, and DC were statistically different, and the DC of YD-SX-A was lower than that of CR and Topcon KR8800. Bland-Altman plots indicated that YD-SX-A has a moderate agreement with CR and Topcon KR8800. The sensitivity and specificity of YD-SX-A for detecting myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism were 90.17% and 90.32%, 97.78% and 87.88%, 84.08% and 74.26%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study has identified that YD-SX-A has shown good performance in both agreement and effectiveness in detecting refractive error when compared with Topcon KR8800 and CR. YD-SX-A could be a useful tool for large-scale population refractive screening.

Development and validation of machine learning models for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) had become the most prevalent liver disease worldwide. Early diagnosis could effectively reduce NAFLD-related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to combine the risk factors to develop and validate a novel model for predicting NAFLD. METHODS: We enrolled 578 participants completing abdominal ultrasound into the training set. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression combined with random forest (RF) was conducted to screen significant predictors for NAFLD risk. Five machine learning models including logistic regression (LR), RF, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), gradient boosting machine (GBM), and support vector machine (SVM) were developed. To further improve model performance, we conducted hyperparameter tuning with train function in Python package 'sklearn'. We included 131 participants completing magnetic resonance imaging into the testing set for external validation. RESULTS: There were 329 participants with NAFLD and 249 without in the training set, while 96 with NAFLD and 35 without were in the testing set. Visceral adiposity index, abdominal circumference, body mass index, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ALT/AST (aspartate aminotransferase), age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and elevated triglyceride (TG) were important predictors for NAFLD risk. The area under curve (AUC) of LR, RF, XGBoost, GBM, SVM were 0.915 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.886-0.937], 0.907 (95% CI: 0.856-0.938), 0.928 (95% CI: 0.873-0.944), 0.924 (95% CI: 0.875-0.939), and 0.900 (95% CI: 0.883-0.913), respectively. XGBoost model presented the best predictive performance, and its AUC was enhanced to 0.938 (95% CI: 0.870-0.950) with further parameter tuning. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed and validated five novel machine learning models for NAFLD prediction, among which XGBoost presented the best performance and was considered a reliable reference for early identification of high-risk patients with NAFLD in clinical practice.

Surfing Scanning Probe Nanolithography at Meters Per Second.

Scanning probe lithography (SPL) as a maskless approach with a low tool price can pattern a variety of materials at a nanometer or even atomic resolution. However, the throughput of conventional SPLs is extremely low due to their limited scanning speeds. Here, we report a high-speed, probe-based method to continuously pattern the substrate surface at a linear velocity of meters per second. We demonstrated direct writings of nanoscale patterns by using ultrafast electron-induced deposition inside a nanoscale flow at a patterning frequency of 20 MHz. The fast scan motion of the writing probe is precisely controlled by using self-adaptive hydro- and aerodynamics functions of a patterning head. The microscale electro-hydrodynamic ejection and microfluid channels are used to deliver the precursor at high scanning speeds. One patterning head can carry parallel probes to further enhance the patterning throughput. This low-cost, maskless patterning method opens new avenues to develop high-throughput nanomanufacturing techniques.

Thrombin-Induced Microglia Activation Modulated through Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptors.

Thrombin is a multifunctional serine protein which is closely related to neurodegenerative disorders. The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is well expressed in microglia cells involving inflammatory disorders of the brain. However, it remains unclear as to how modulation of AhR expression by thrombin is related to the development of neurodegeneration disorders. In this study, we investigated the role of AhR in the development of thrombin-induced neurodegenerative processes, especially those concerning microglia. The primary culture of either wild type or AhR deleted microglia, as well as BV-2 cell lines, was used for an in vitro study. Hippocampal slice culture and animals with either wild type or with AhR deleted were used for the ex vivo and in vivo studies. Simulations of ligand protein docking showed a strong integration between the thrombin and AhR. In thrombin-triggered microglia cells, deleting AhR escalated both the NO release and iNOS expression. Such effects were abolished by the administration of the AhR agonist. In thrombin-activated microglia cells, downregulating AhR increased the following: vascular permeability, pro-inflammatory genetic expression, MMP-9 activity, and the ratio of M1/M2 phenotype. In the in vivo study, thrombin induced the activation of microglia and their volume, thereby contributing to the deterioration of neurobehavior. Deleting AhR furthermore aggravated the response in terms of impaired neurobehavior, increasing brain edema, aggregating microglia, and increasing neuronal death. In conclusion, thrombin caused the activation of microglia through increased vessel permeability, expression of inflammatory response, and phenotype of M1 microglia, as well the MMP activity. Deleting AhR augmented the above detrimental effects. These findings indicate that the modulation of AhR is essential for the regulation of thrombin-induced brain damages and that the AhR agonist may harbor the potentially therapeutic effect in thrombin-induced neurodegenerative disorder.

Neuronal Death Caused by HMGB1-Evoked via Inflammasomes from Thrombin-Activated Microglia Cells.

Microglial cells are a macrophage-like cell type residing within the CNS. These cells evoke pro-inflammatory responses following thrombin-induced brain damage. Inflammasomes, which are large caspase-1-activating protein complexes, play a critical role in mediating the extracellular release of HMGB1 in activated immune cells. The exact role of inflammasomes in microglia activated by thrombin remains unclear, particularly as it relates to the downstream functions of HMGB1. After receiving microinjections of thrombin, Sprague Dawley rats of 200 to 250 gm were studied in terms of behaviors and immunohistochemical staining. Primary culture of microglia cells and BV-2 cells were used for the assessment of signal pathways. In a water maze test and novel object recognition analysis, microinjections of thrombin impaired rats' short-term and long-term memory, and such detrimental effects were alleviated by injecting anti-HMGB-1 antibodies. After thrombin microinjections, the increased oxidative stress of neurons was aggravated by HMGB1 injections but attenuated by anti-HMGB-1 antibodies. Such responses occurred in parallel with the volume of activated microglia cells, as well as their expressions of HMGB-1, IL-1ß, IL-18, and caspase-I. In primary microglia cells and BV-2 cell lines, thrombin also induced NO release and mRNA expressions of iNOS, IL-1ß, IL-18, and activated caspase-I. HMGB-1 aggravated these responses, which were abolished by anti-HMGB-1 antibodies. In conclusion, thrombin induced microglia activation through triggering inflammasomes to release HMGB1, contributing to neuronal death. Such an action was counteracted by the anti-HMGB-1 antibodies. The refinement of HMGB-1 modulated the neuro-inflammatory response, which was attenuated in thrombin-associated neurodegenerative disorder.

Study protocol for artificial intelligence-assisted sponge cytology as pre-endoscopy screening for early esophegeal squmaous epithelial lesions in China.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic screening is the widely accepted screening strategy for esophageal squmaous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, massive endoscopic screening is expensive and not cost-efficient, and novel pre-endoscopy detection used as a preliminary screening method arouses new concerns. We are planning to launch an artificial intelligence (AI) assisted sponge cytology for detecting esophageal squmaous high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) and above lesions. The aim of this trail is to investigate the efficiency of AI-assisted sponge cytology in population-based screening of early esophageal squmaous epithelial lesions. METHODS: The study will be prospectively conducted in five regions with a high prevalence of ESCC. AI-assisted sponge cytology and endoscopic examination will be sequentially performed. Based on our previous data, at least 864 patients with esophageal HGIN and above lesions are needed to achieve enough statistical power. And, a calculated 112,500 individuals with high risks of ESCC will be recruited. In the first stage, each 24,000 participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited on a voluntary basis. Setting pathological results as standard reference, diagnostic threshold and according performance of AI-assisted detection will be evaluated. A prediction model will be constructed by co-analyzing cytological results and relevant risk factors. Then, an external validation cohort will be used for validation of the model efficiency. Also, cost-efficiency analysis will be performed. This study protocol was registered on chineseclinicaltrial.gov (ChiCTR1900028524). DISCUSSION: Our study will determine whether this AI-assisted sponge cytology can be used as an effective pre-endoscopy detection tool for large-scale screening for ESCC in high-risk areas.

Molecular Dynamics Study on the Wettability of the Lithium Droplet and Tungsten Surface.

In this paper, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to study the wettability of lithium and tungsten. The surface energy barrier and evaporation control the static contact angle with increasing temperature. The effects of 4 different sizes of droplets and 10 different tungsten sections were evaluated. Moreover, it was found that the different arrangements of atoms on the solid surface will affect the wettability, but the size of the droplet has little effect. In addition, the situation of the droplets driven by six different external forces was evaluated. When the force increases, the two states of the droplet and stream will have different properties. Finally, we studied the phase behavior between lithium and tungsten. For example, lithium overflows from the tungsten plate. The tungsten phase is separated in the lithium plate. Lithium is faster than tungsten when it aggregates in the gas phase, and wettability will drive the effects of engulfing and spitting.

Evaluating renal iron overload in diabetes mellitus by blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging: a longitudinal experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Iron overload plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Non-invasive evaluation of renal iron overload in diabetes in the management and intervention of diabetic nephropathy is of great significance. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating renal iron overload in diabetes using a rabbit model. METHODS: The rabbits were randomly divided into control, iron-overload (I), diabetes (D), and diabetes with iron-overload (DI) groups (each n = 19). The diabetes models were generated by injecting intravenous alloxan solution, and the iron-overload models were generated by injecting intramuscular iron-dextran. BOLD MRI was performed immediately (week 0) and at week 4, 8, and 12 following modeling. The differences in renal cortex (CR2*) and outer medulla R2* (MR2*) and the ratio of MR2*-CR2* (MCR) across the different time points were compared. RESULTS: Iron was first deposited in glomeruli in the I group and in proximal tubular cells in renal cortex in the D group. In the DI group, there was iron deposition in both glomeruli and proximal tubular cells at week 4, and the accumulation increased subsequently. The degree of kidney injury and iron overload was more severe in the DI group than those in the I and D groups at week 12. At week 8 and 12, the CR2* and MR2* in the DI group were higher than those in the I and D groups (all P < 0.05). The MCR in the I, D, and DI groups decreased from week 0 to 4 (all P < 0.001), and that in the I group increased from week 8 to 12 (P = 0.034). CR2* and MR2* values displayed different trends from week 0-12. Dynamic MCR curves in the D and DI groups were different from that in the I group. CONCLUSION: It presents interactions between diabetes and iron overload in kidney injury, and BOLD MRI can be used to evaluate renal iron overload in diabetes.

Modulation of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Expression Alleviated Neuropathic Pain in a Chronic Constriction Nerve Injury Animal Model.

Neuropathic pain is well known to occur after damage to the somatosensory system. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has neuroprotective effects when the central nervous system is subjected to internal and external stimulations. However, the exact mechanism by which AhR regulates neuropathic pain is poorly understood. Nerve explant culture and the chronic constrictive nerve injury (CCI) model in wild or AhR-knockout mice were used in this study. In the nerve explant culture, the ovoid number increased in the AhR-/- condition and was decreased by omeprazole (AhR agonist) in a dose-dependent manner. Increased nerve degeneration and the associated inflammation response appeared in the AhR-/- condition, and these changes were attenuated by omeprazole. High expression of AhR in the injured nerve was noted after CCI. Deletion of AhR aggravated nerve damages and this was restored by omeprazole. Deletion of AhR increased NGF expression and reduced axon number in the paw skin, but this was attenuated by omeprazole. A highly expressed inflammation reaction over the dorsal spinal cord, somatosensory cortex, and hippocampus was noted in the AhR-deleted animals. Administration of omeprazole attenuated not only the inflammatory response, but also the amplitude of somatosensory evoked potential. Deletion of AhR further aggravated the neurobehavior compared with the wild type, but such behavior was attenuated by omeprazole. Chronic constrictive nerve injury augmented AhR expression of the injured nerve, and AhR deletion worsened the damage, while AhR agonist omeprazole counteracted such changes. AhR agonists could be potential candidates for neuropathic pain treatment.

Potential Therapeutic Effects of Thiazolidinedione on Malignant Glioma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system. GBM has a very low 5-year survival rate and reaching merely a median of ~15 months even with aggressive treatments. PPARγ (Peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor gamma) agonists (ciglitazone), while being widely used on patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus, also have approved anticancer effects. Their action mechanisms on malignant glioma are not fully understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of PPARγ agonists on maligant glioma. Glioma cell line and in-vivo/ex-vivo animal model intervened by ciglitazone were used to assess the associated mechanism and therapeutic effect. Our results from in vivo and ex vivo experiments showed that ciglitazone not only inhibited tumor growth and its associated angiogenesis, but it also reduced colony formation and migration of tumors. Ciglitazone inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) (at the point of tyrosine 705 by increasing both the amount and activity of SHP-2 (Src homology region 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2) proteins, based on evidence obtained from immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, ciglitazone activated proteasomes and lysosomes to degrade cell-cycle-related proteins like Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, CDK2 (Cyclin-dependent kinase 2), and CDK4 (Cyclin-dependent kinase 4). Ciglitazone triggered expressions of LC3 (Microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3) and formation of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs), both of which were implicated in the autophagy pathway. In conclusion, ciglitazone showed the multiple actions to regulate the growth of glioma, which appeared to be a potential candidate for treating malignant glioma.

Evaluation of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by magnetic resonance imaging texture analysis: An experimental study.

PURPOSE: To explore the value of MRI texture analysis in evaluating the presence and severity of early renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). METHODS: Healthy New Zealand rabbits were used (IRI group, N = 54; control group, N = 8). Rabbits in the IRI group underwent left renal artery clamping for 60 minutes. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed before and at 1, 12, 24, and 48 hours after IRI. The relationship between MRI texture features and histopathology parameters was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients. The diagnostic performance of texture features in kidney differentiation at different time points was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: T2 WI_S(3,-3)Inverse_Difference_Moment had the strongest correlation with brush border destruction, tubular epithelial edema, necrosis, and cast (r = 0.56, -0.58, 0.62, and 0.69, respectively; all P < .001). BOLD_S(4,-4)Correlation had the strongest correlation with interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration (r = 0.63, P < .001). SWI_S(4,4)Difference_Entropy had the strongest correlation with microvessel density (r = 0.61, P < .001). The areas under the curve for T2 WI_S(3,-3)Inverse_Difference_Moment, SWI_S(4,4)Difference_Entropy, and BOLD_S(4,-4)Correlation in kidney differentiation before IRI and that at 1 and 12 hours after reperfusion were 0.76, 0.72, and 0.70, respectively; the values before IRI and at 24 and 48 hours after reperfusion were 0.84, 0.81, and 0.69, respectively. The area under the curve for T2 WI_S(3,-3)Inverse_Difference_Moment in kidney differentiation at 1 and 12 hours after reperfusion and that at 24 and 48 hours after reperfusion was 0.66. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging texture analysis can be used for evaluating the presence and severity of early renal IRI.

Can R2 ' mapping evaluate hypoxia in renal ischemia reperfusion injury quantitatively? An experimental study.

PURPOSE: To explore if R2 ' mapping can assess renal hypoxia in rabbits with ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). METHODS: Forty rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups according to the clipping time: the sham group and 45 min, 60 min, and 75 min for the mild, moderate, and severe groups (with n = 10 each group), respectively. Intravenous furosemide (FU) was administered 24 h after IRI. All rabbits were performed 5 times (IRIpre , IRI24h , FU5min , FU12min , and FU24min ) with a 3.0 Tesla MR. The R2 ' values and the hypoxic scores were then recorded. The repeated measurement analysis of variance and Spearman correlation analysis was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline, the medullary R2 ' values increased significantly 24 h after the IRI (baseline 19.31 ± 1.21 s-1 , mild group 20.05 ± 1.26 s-1 , moderate group 25.38 ± 1.38 s-1 , and severe group 25.79 ± 1.10 s-1 ; each P < .001). FU led to a significant decrease in the medullary R2 ' value (sham group 11.17 ± 4.33 s-1 , mild group 7.80 ± 0.74 s-1 , moderate group 3.92 ± 0.28 s-1 , and severe group 3.82 ± 0.23 s-1 ; each P < .05). Quantitative hypoxic scores revealed significant differences among the 4 groups in the outer medulla (P < .001 each). The medullary R2 ' differences (before and after intravenous FU) were significantly correlated with the hypoxic scores, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSION: R2 ' mapping can evaluate the renal hypoxia in the procession of IRI in rabbits and might serve as a quantitative biomarker for IRI.

Carbon Dots as Environment-Friendly and Efficient Corrosion Inhibitors for Q235 Steel in 1 M HCl.

To reduce the corrosion of Q235 steel, environment-friendly and efficient N-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were synthesized using 4-amino salicylic acid (4-ASA) and l-histidine (l-His) as precursors. The corrosion inhibition behavior of N-CDs for Q235 steel in 1 M HCl solution was systematically investigated using a weight-loss experiment, an electrochemical test, and corrosion morphology. Results showed that N-CDs could effectively inhibit the corrosion of Q235 steel, and the inhibitory efficiency reached 93% at 50 mg L-1. Quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics were used to study the inhibition mechanism of N-CDs. The results demonstrated that N-CDs exhibited a strong adsorption force on metal and the adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, indicating physical/chemical mixed adsorption.