ABSTRACT
Myocardial fibrosis （MF） is a prevalent pathological process in a spectrum of cardiac conditions， including myocardial infarction， hypertensive heart disease， and dilated cardiomyopathy. It is marked by an overabundance of extracellular matrix deposition， diminished myocardial compliance， and impaired cardiac function， which can lead to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The current therapeutic approach primarily aims to suppress the progression of fibrosis， yet the therapeutic outcomes are poor. The pathogenesis of MF involves multiple signaling pathways， including the transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）/Smads signaling pathway， nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway， phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway， and mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） boasts a rich history in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases， offering distinctive benefits such as minimal side effects and high safety， and it has demonstrated promising therapeutic effects in the treatment of MF. In recent years， research has turned its attention to the application of TCM in modulating the signaling pathways associated with MF. It has been demonstrated that TCM can modulate the MF-related signaling pathways to exert anti-inflammatory effects， regulate cellular autophagy， cell proliferation， and apoptosis， reduce myocardial oxidative stress and damage， and inhibit the activation of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis， thereby exhibiting the potential to mitigate or even reverse the progression of MF. Experimental research and clinical observations indicate that TCM formulas such as Yixin Futing decoction， Luhong prescription， Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsules， and Kangjian Yixin prescription can effectively ameliorate MF and enhance cardiac function through the multi-component regulation of multiple cellular pathways. Specific TCM constituents， including isoliquiritigenin and astragaloside， have been shown to inhibit the expression of TGF-β1， thereby disrupting the Smad signaling pathway. Compounds like glycyrrhizic acid and allicin can suppress the NF-κB signaling pathway and curtail collagen synthesis in myocardial cells， and forsythoside can activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， contributing to its anti-fibrotic effects.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the diagnostic efficiency of the 2020 Chinese Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (C-TIRADS) and the 2017 American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR-TIRADS) in the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Methods:A retrospective analysis of the two-dimensional ultrasound image results of 324 thyroid nodules in 289 patients with thyroid nodules and thyroid nodules were performed in the physical examination of the Health Management Department of the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital from January 2018 to January 2019. A superficial professional doctor with a senior professional title simultaneously uses the C-TIRADS and ACR-TIRADS methods to evaluate the above nodules. The results are all pathologically referenced for the χ2 test and the receiver operating characteristic curve is drawn. Results:The sensitivity of C-TIRADS in diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid nodules was 81.90%, specificity was 97.72%, accuracy was 92.59%, negative predictive value was 91.85%, positive predictive value was 84.51%; ACR-TIRADS diagnosis The sensitivity of benign and malignant thyroid nodules was 59.05%, specificity was 99.54%, accuracy was 86.42%, negative predictive value was 83.52%, and positive predictive value was 98.41%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.958 and 0.935( Z=2.31 P=0.021). Conclusion:C-TIRADS classification based on counting method is better than ACR-TIRADS classification based on sub-method in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. It has better efficacy and is more suitable for the current status of diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules in China.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the relationship between ciaH, eno, pykF genes and fluoride resistance through determining the differential expressions of ciaH, eno and pykF genes of fluoride-resistant Streptococcus mutans cultivated in fluoride environment. Methods:The cultured Streptococcus mutans and their fluoride-resistant strains were divided into UA (Streptococcus mutans subcultured in BHI without NaF), FR (fluoride-resistant Streptococcus mutans subcultured in BHI without NaF) and FFR (fluoride-resistant Streptococcus mutans subcultured in BHI containing 1 g·L-1 NaF) groups.After 11 h (logarithmic phase) and 20 h (platform stage) cultivation, the expression levels of ciaH, eno and pykF mRNA were detected by RT-PCR method.Results:Compared with FR group, the expression levels of ciaH, eno and pykF mRNA in FFR group were increased both in the logarithmic phase and the platform stage(P0.05), but it was increased in the platform stage (P<0.01).Conclusion:Fluoride can increase the expression levels of ciaH, eno and pykF genes in fluoride-resistant Streptococcus mutans, indicating that these genes are related to the production of fluoride resistance.