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Objective@#To examine the effect of SiO2 exposure on the airway surface microenvironment and NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in rats.@*Methods@#Twenty-four specific pathogen-free male rats of the SD strain were randomly divided into the control group and the model group, of 12 rats in each group. Rats in the model group were given SiO2 suspensions through disposable tracheal intubation perfusion to model silicosis in rats, while rats in the control group was perfused with the same amount of physiological saline. The pH value and glucose level were measured in the rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) 14 and 28 days after modeling. Lung tissues were stained with HE and Masson and the distribution of inflammatory cells and the deposition of pulmonary interstitial collagens were observed in lung tissues under a light microscope. The expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), collagen type Ⅰ(ColⅠ), collagen type Ⅲ (Col Ⅲ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), NLRP3, N-terminal domain of Gasdermin D (GSDMD-NT), caspase-1, and NEK7 was quantified in lung specimens using immunohistochemistry.@*Results@# Lower pH values were measured in rat BALF in the model group than in the control group 14 [(6.38±0.05) vs. (6.68±0.08), P<0.05] and 28 days after modeling [(6.63±0.14) vs. (6.86±0.05), P<0.05], while higher glucose levels were seen in the model group than in the control group 14 [(0.39±0.06) vs. (0.31±0.04) mg/dL, P<0.05] and 28 days after modeling [(0.39±0.08) vs. (0.31±0.06) mg/dL, P<0.05]. HE and Masson staining showed mild to moderate alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in rats 14 days post-exposure to SiO2, and showed moderate to severe alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis 28 days post-exposure. Immunohistochemistry detected higher TGF-β1, ColⅠ, Col Ⅲ, IL-1β, NLRP3, GSDMD-NT, caspase-1 and NEK7 expression in rat lung tissues in the model group than in the control group (all P<0.05). @*Conclusions@#SiO2 exposure may cause changes in rat airway surface microenvironment, including BALF acidification and elevated glucose. Pyroptosis induced by activation of NEK7-associated NLRP3 inflammasome may be an important mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis caused by silicosis.
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Objective:To explore the imaging manifestations of central nervous system aspergillosis (CNSAG).Methods:The cranial imaging changes of five CNSAG patients admitted to the First Medical Center of People′s Liberation Army General Hospital from 2013 to 2019 were analyzed and their imaging characteristics were summarized.Results:There were four males and one female with the minimum age of 20 years old and maximum age of 59 years old. Among the five cases, two cases mainly occurred in the cavernous sinus and three cases in the cerebral parenchyma. Long T 1-weighted and long T 2-weighted signals were observed in all the lesions of the cerebral parenchyma, while equal or short T 1-weighted, equal or long T 2-weighted signals were observed in the lesions of the cavernous sinus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain of all cases showed multiple ring enhancement, which could form serrate or lace-like arrangement along the periphery of the lesion and gather together to form "honeycomb" enhancement characteristics. The degree of peripheral enhancement was more obvious, and the scope of enhancement increased after the disease was aggravated. High diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) signal can be seen in the ring enhanced focus, which is the MRI feature of abscess, and high DWI signal can be seen at the edge of the enhanced ring. Susceptibility weighted imaging showed low bleeding signal, no characteristic changes in the spectrum, and decreased perfusion in the central area. Computer tomography scan showed normal or equal density mass lesions, obvious edema or complicated infarction showed irregular low-density shadow, and bleeding showed high-density shadow. Conclusion:MRI showed mixed signal and circular enhancement, computer tomography showed normal or isodense mass lesions, or irregular low-density shadow, and bleeding signs could be found in CNSAG.
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Objective:To explore the diagnostic application and characteristics of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in exertional rhabdomyolysis (ERM).Methods:Three cases of ERM patients admitted to Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center of Chinese People′s Liberation Army General Hospital in August 2019 were selected and clinical data of the patients were collected including medical history, serum muscle enzyme, electromyography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the thigh muscles within one week after onset.Results:All three patients had muscle soreness and dark urine after exercise and their serum muscle enzyme level exceeded five times of normal value which could be definitely diagnosed as ERM. Skeletal muscle MRI showed equal or slightly longer T 1, longer fat-suppressed T 2 weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery images, and high diffusion weighted imaging signal. In this group, one case of femur muscle MRI showed adductor longus and semitendinosus myopathy, other two cases showed quadriceps. All cases′ MRI score was grade one. Echogenic enhancement can be seen in normal ultrasound of diseased skeletal muscle. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed a dynamic strengthening process in which the central area was firstly strengthened, then strengthened in peripheral area. Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed characteristic changes in ERM with early and obvious enhancement in the central area and uneven enhancement in the central area. Conclusions:Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of ERM lesions has its characteristic changes. The enhancement of the central area of the lesion appeared early and obvious while the surrounding area appeared late and weak, showing the characteristic of "water ripple" concentric circle reinforcement. This enhancement characteristic suggested that ERM skeletal muscle was unevenly damaged and the central area was more obvious.
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Objective:To investigate the synergistic effect of sarcopenia and osteoporosis on the occurrence of spinal osteoporotic fracture (OPF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:A total of 389 hospitalized RA patients and 156 age and sex-matched normal subjects (control group) were recruited. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method was used to measure bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and hip, and bioelectrical impedance method was applied to determine skeletal muscle mass of limbs. X-ray examination of spin was conducted and spinal OPF was diagnosed according to semi-quality method. Student's t test was used for comparison of measurement date between the two groups, χ2 test was used for comparison of intergroup rates, and Logistic Regression(Backward LR) method was used for multivariate Regression analysis of binomial classification data. Results:BMD of all test sites in RA patients was significantly lower than that in the control group ( P<0.01). The incidence of total OP in RA group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(32.9% vs 12.8%), χ2=22.706, P<0.01]. A total of 84 patients with RA developed spinal OPF, with an incidence of 21.6% which was higher than that in the control group [(3.8%), χ2=25.439, P<0.01]. The incidence of sarcopenia in RA was 54.8%, significantly higher than that in the control group [(9.6%), χ2=93.241, P<0.01]. The incidence of sarcopenia combined with osteoporosis in RA group (28.5%) was significantly higher than that in the control group [(5.8%), χ2=118.110, P<0.01]. Comparison of the incidence of spinal OPF in RA patients among groups with different bone mass (normal bone mass, osteopenia, osteoporosis) showed that the incidence of spinal OPF among these groups was statistically different ( χ2=43.373, P<0.01), and the incidence of spinal OPF increased along with the decrease of bone mass ( χ2=43.003, P<0.01). The incidence of spinal OPF in RA patients with sarcopenia (27.2%, 58/213) was significantly higher than that in RA patients without sarcopenia [(14.8%, 26/176), χ2=8.833, P=0.003]. All participants were divided into three groups: group 1=no OP and sarcopenia, group 2=with sarcopenia or OP, group 3=both sarcopenia and OP. Difference of incidence of spine OPF in RA patients among three groups was statistically significant ( χ2=33.832, P<0.01), and the incidence of spinal OPF raised gradually in group 1 and 3, ( χ2=37.164, P<0.01). Incidences of sarcopenia, OP and spinal OPF in RA treated with glucocorticoid (GC) were higher than those in RA without GC ( P<0.05, P<0.01). Results of logistic regression showed advanced age[ OR(95% CI)=1.069(1.038, 1.101), P<0.01], usage of GC [ OR(95% CI)=3.169(1.679, 5.984), P<0.01] and sarcopenia combined with OP [ OR(95% CI)=2.113(1.430, 3.124), P<0.01] were risk factors for spinal OPF in RA patients. Conclusion:Incidences of sarcopenia, OP and spinal OPF in RA patients are higher than that in normal controls. Sarcopenia and OP have a synergistic effect on spinal OPF in RA patients.
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Objective:To explore the clinical value of sarcopenia and vitamin D deficiency on gluco-corticoid induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:Three hundred and eleven patients with RA from January 2017 to December 2018 were enrolled in the study. One hundred and fifty-eight sex, age-matched normal subjects were recruited as control group. Clinical and laboratory features, daily dosage and treatment duration of glucocorticoid (GC) were recorded in detail. Skeletal muscle mass was measured by biological electrical impedance. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] were examined using electro-chemiluminescence. Bone mineral density (BMD) at total hip and lumbar vertebra were detected by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Numerical data and categorical data comparisons were analyzed using χ2 test, non-parametric test, Logistic regression analysis test. Results:① The prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) in RA patients was 33.4%(104/311), which was higher than that in the control group 12.7%(20/158)( χ2=23.267, P<0.01). Percentage of GC taking in 311 RA patients was 56.6%(176/311), and the prevalence of GIOP was 40.9%(72/176). The prevalence of sarcopenia in RA patients was 61.7%(192/311), which was higher than that in the control group [9.0%(14/156), χ2=117.310, P<0.01]. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in RA patients was 81.7%(254/311), which was higher than that in control group [38.0%(60/158), χ2=90.415, P<0.01]. ② The prevalence of OP in RA without sarcopenia was 17.6% (21/119), which was lower than that in patients with sarcopenia [43.2%(83/192), χ2=21.601, P<0.01]. In condition without GC, the prevalence of OP in RA without sarcopenia was 9.8%(6/61), which was significantly lower than that in patients with sarcopenia [35.1%(26/74), χ2=11.834, P<0.01]. Under circumstances with GC, the prevalence of OP in RA without sarcopenia (25.9%, 15/58), which was significantly lower than that in patients with sarcopenia (48.3%, 57/118, χ2=8.103, P<0.01). ③ No matter whether existing vitamin D deficiency or not, the prevalence of OP in RA without GC was 23.7%(32/135), which was significantly lower than that in patients with GC [40.9%(72/176), χ2=10.161, P<0.01]. In patients without vitamin D deficiency, the prevalence of OP in RA without GC was 21.4%(6/28), which was similar to that in patients with GC [31.0%(9/29), χ2=0.678, P>0.05]. In the case of vitamin D deficiency, the prevalence of OP in RA without GC was 24.3%(24/107), which was significantly lower than that in patients with GC [42.9% (63/147), χ2=9.370 2, P<0.01]. ④ In RA patients with GC, age( t=5.313, P<0.01), Sharp score ( Z=2.999, P<0.01), disease duration ( Z=2.141, P<0.05) and treatment duration of GC ( Z=2.460, P<0.05) were higher in group with GIOP than that in group without GIOP, while erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)( Z=2.262, P<0.05), C-reactive protein levels (CRP) ( Z=2.551, P<0.05) and body mass index (BMI) ( t=2.425, P<0.05) were lower and the composition ratio of X-ray staging was worse ( χ2=12.484, P<0.01).⑤ Logistic regression analysis (LR Backward) showed that female gender [ OR(95% CI)=14.240(3.878, 52.288), P<0.01], age [ OR(95% CI)=1.079(1.042, 1.118), P<0.01] and sarcopenia [ OR(95% CI)=2.470(1.192, 5.120), P<0.05] were the risk factors for GIOP in RA patients. Conclusion:The proportion of treatment with GC in RA patients is very high (about 60%), and the prevalence of GIOP is 40.9%, which is closely related to sarcopenia and vitamin D deficiency.
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Objective Triple negative breast cancer(TNBC), a special breast cancer subtype, is lack of effective target therapy.The article aimed to investigate the role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and Hippo Yes-associated protein (Hippo-YAP) signaling pathway in TNBC invasion and metastasis and the mechanisms.Methods The specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) of YAP was synthetized in vitro, and was transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells using liposome transfection.The experiment was divided into YAP-siRNA group, positive control group and blank control group.Each group is provided with 2 parallel holes.Evaluation was made on the effects of each group on Hippo-YAP, the mechanisms and regulation on upstream and downstream molecules of Hippo-YAP pathway.Results In experiment group, YAP content, the capacity of invasion and metastasis after transfection ([0.035±0.005], [2.200±1.000], [3.500±0.800]) significantly decreased compared with positive control group([0.343±0.012], [27.600±5.100], [22.300±5.000]) and blank control group([0.384±0.017], [26.500±4.800], [22.350±6.000]) (P<0.05).YAP expression levels at 60 min, 120 min, and 240 min in experiment group significantly decreased compared with positive control group and blank control group (P<0.05).YAP relative expression levels of 10, 20, 50 μmol/Lwere significantly lower than those of positive control group and blank control group (P<0.05).After respective interference of C3 transferase and Y27623, significant difference was found in the pYAP mRNA contents of experiment group([0.255±0.052], [0.326±0.017]), blank control group([0.048±0.032], [0.534±0.017]) and positive control group([0.052±0.021], [0.528±0.024])(P<0.05).The expression levels of YAP mNA and AREG mNA significantly increased in experiment group([0.176±0.032], [0.263±0.008]) compared with blank control group([0.043±0.013], [0.263±0.008]) and positive control group([0.049±0.025], [0.057±0.043])(P<0.05).Conclusion LPA induces breast cancer invasion and metastasis, which is YAP-dependent, time-dependent and concentration-dependent.LPA-Hippo-YAP singaling pathway may be one of the mechanisms promoting delayed metastasis of TNBC.
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Objective To evaluate the differential expression of lysophosphatidic acid receptor (LPAR) in breast cancer (BC), and its relationship with clinicopathological features of BC patients. Methods The qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the LPAR expression in 37 normal tissues, 55 benign disease tissues and 82 BC tissues, besides, the correlation of LPAR expression with clinicopathological data was also analyzed. Results The expression levels of LPAR2 and LPAR3 mRNA and protein in BC tissues were higher than those in normal benign tissues (all P0.05). LPAR1 expression was not associated with clinicopathological features in BC tissues (P>0.05). LPAR2 expression in postmenopausal patients was higher than that in premenopausal patients (χ2=4.821, P<0.05). LPAR3 expression was significantly associated with nodal metastasis, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in BC tissues (all P<0.05). Conclusion LPAR in BC tissues has differential expression, which is associated with nodal metastasis, ER, PR and HER2.
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Purpose Median arcuate ligament (MAL) compression is the most common reason for celiac artery stenosis or occlusion, celiac artery compression of asymptomatic MAL is often misdiagnosed. This study aims to evaluate the multi-slice spiral CT manifestations of the celiac artery compression of median arcuate ligament. Materials and Methods CT features of 26 patients with celiac artery compression of median arcuate ligament were retrospectively studied. Eleven cases were symptomatic and fifteen cases were asymptomatic. Results In 14 cases (53.8%), the location of compression was at the level of superior 1/3 of the L1 vertebral body. There was statistic difference in location of the origin of compression between the celiac artery narrowing group and the non-narrowing group (P<0.05). CT manifestations included: narrowing of the celiac artery were observed in 26 patients on sagittal reformatted images with hollow on the anterior wall; a characteristic hooked appearance was observed. Narrowed celiac artery on the transverse images was seen in 21 patients, and a soft-tissue band extending across the anterior aspect of artery in 12 of them. Poststenotic dilatation was revealed in 20 patients. Collateral circulation was seen in 8 patients. Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT can be helpful in demonstrating the location of celiac artery compression of median arcuate ligament and tell the characteristic imaging features.
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ObjectiveTo estimate the value of CT virtual colonoscopy (CTVC) and its image postprocessing techniques in the diagnosis of colorectal diseases.MethodsCTVC images of 84 patients with suspected colorectal diseases were retrospectively analyzed combined with multiple planar reconstruction (MPR),shaded surface display(SSD) and transparent image reconstruction.The location,size,shape and type of the lesions were analyzed and the images were compared with electronic colonoscopy and pathologic specimen finding.ResulltsFify-nine of 84 patients were diagnosed as coloretal cancer (23 cases with cancer in sigmoid colon,22 cases in rectum,11 cases in ascending colon and 3 cases in appendix),8 cases were porctopolypus,3 cases were multiple colonic diverticula,1 case was hemorrhoids,13 cases were normal.All the diagnosis was confirmed correct by operation pathology or clinic.ConclusionCTVC can show the shape and other features of colorectal diseases,and has important significance for clinical staging and surgical planning of colorectal cancer.
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Objectives To know the affecting degree of snail status by the flood in schistosomiasis epdemic areas.Methods The eight embankments suffered from disasterous floods and collapsed were selected in Dongting Lake; the changes of snail states and snail-killed etc.Before and after disasterous floods were surveyed by retrospectively. Results In the eight embankments, the snail areas inside embankment increased at different degree except two embankments where snail was not found after disaster, it was 10.8 times of that before disaster; Furthermore, after disaster the snail was found in the embankment enclosing village areas inside where it was not found before disaster; in most of embankments collapsed, the mean density of living snail inside embankment and mean density of infected snail and positive rates of snail outside embankment descended at different degree after disaster. Conclusions Inside embankment, the disastrous floods could lead to snails speading in most of embankments collapsed. Otherwise, outside embankment the flood led to reduce the mean density of infected snail and positive rates of snail in most of embankments collapsed, and the degree of snails spreading was affected by the factors such as the snail states at the collapsed place, mean density of living snail,immersed area by water, mud and sand ect.