Speckle tracking imaging combined with myocardial comprehensive index to evaluate left ventricular function changes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early changes in left ventricular systolic function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI). METHODS: A total of 30 SLE patients and 30 healthy people (control group) were selected, the patients were further divided into subgroups according to their Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment version of the SLE Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) score: ≤ 12: mild-to-moderate group; > 12: severe group. All participants were examined using 3D-STI, the 3D-STI parameters were obtained. Receiver operating curves (ROC) were prepared for above parameters and analyzed to identify correlations among 3D-STI parameters and high sensitivity-TropT (hs-TropT). RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the absolute values of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), left ventricular twist angle (LVtw), torsion (Tor) and myocardial comprehensive index (MCI) decreased, left ventricular end diastolic mass (LV EDmass), left ventricular end systolic mass (LV ESmass) and peak strain dispersion (PSD) increased in the mild-to-moderate and the severe groups (P2  < 0.05, P3  < 0.05). There was statistically significant difference in terms of 3D-STI parameters between the mild-to-moderate group and the severe group (P1  < 0.05). The highest area under the ROC for MCI was 0.909, the highest sensitivity for MCI was 90.00%, and the highest specificity for Tor was 86.67%. Correlation analysis showed that there was a good correlation between the MCI and hs-TropT (r = - 0.677). CONCLUSION: 3D-STI technology may help detect early changes in left ventricular systolic function in patients with SLE.

[Changes in Wnt pathway inhibiting factors in nitrosamine-induced esophageal precancerosis lesions and effect of gexia zhuyu decoction].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the changes in Wnt pathway inhibiting factors in esophageal precancerosis lesions induced by methyl benzyl nitrosamine (MBNA) and the effect of Gexia Zhuyu decoction. METHOD: Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with MBNA (3.5 mg x kg(-1) for twice per week to establish the model. Since the 1st day after the model establishment, they were orally administered with Gexia Zhuyu decoction (16, 8 mg x kg(-1)). At the 10th week, esophageal tissues were collected to observe the pathological changes of esophageal mucosa, detect SFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1, Axin2 and GSK-3ß mRNA levels.by fluorescent quantitation PCR analysis and ß-catenin protein level by Western blotting. RESULT: Being induced by MBNA, rats in the model group showed slight atypical hyperplasia in the histopathological examination. Compared with the normal group, Gexia Zhuyu decoction dose high and low groups showed no significant pathomorphological and histological changes. The model group showed lower gene transcription levels of esophageal tissues sFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1 and Axin2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and higher ß-catenin protein expression level (P < 0.01) than the normal control group. The Gexia Zhuyu decoction low dose group showed higher gene transcription levels of esophageal tissues sFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1 and Axin2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and lower ß-catenin protein expression level (P < 0.01) than the normal control group. CONCLUSION: Up-regulated ß-catenin protein level and down-regulated Wnt pathway could enhance Wnt pathway activity of MBNA-induced esophageal precancerous lesions. Gexia Zhuyu decoction could down-regulate the ß-catenin protein level and up-regulate the transcription level of Wnt pathway inhibiting factors, but could not block MBNA-induced esophageal precancerosis lesions.

Antitumor Efficacy and Mechanism in Hepatoma H22-Bearing Mice of Brucea javanica Oil.

Brucea javanica is a traditional herbal medicine in China, and its antitumor activities are of research interest. Brucea javanica oil, extracted with ether and refined with 10% ethyl alcohol from Brucea javanica seed, was used to treat hepatoma H22-bearing mice in this study. The antitumor effect and probable mechanisms of the extracted Brucea javanica oil were studied in H22-bearing mice by WBC count, GOT, GPT levels, and western blotting. The H22 tumor inhibition ratio of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg bw Brucea javanica oil were 15.64%, 23.87%, and 38.27%. Brucea javanica oil could inhibit the involution of thymus induced by H22 tumor-bearing, but it could not inhibit the augmentation of spleen and liver. Brucea javanica oil could decrease the levels of WBC count and GOT and GPT in H22-bearing mice. The protein levels of GAPDH, Akt, TGF-ß1, and α-SMA in tumor tissues decreased after being treated with Brucea javanica oil. Disturbing energy metabolism and neoplastic hyperplasia controlled by Akt and immunoregulation activity were its probable antitumor mechanisms in hepatoma H22-bearing mice.

Topological insulator bismuth selenide as a theranostic platform for simultaneous cancer imaging and therapy.

Employing theranostic nanoparticles, which combine both therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in one dose, has promise to propel the biomedical field toward personalized medicine. Here we investigate the theranostic properties of topological insulator bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) in in vivo and in vitro system for the first time. We show that Bi2Se3 nanoplates can absorb near-infrared (NIR) laser light and effectively convert laser energy into heat. Such photothermal conversion property may be due to the unique physical properties of topological insulators. Furthermore, localized and irreversible photothermal ablation of tumors in the mouse model is successfully achieved by using Bi2Se3 nanoplates and NIR laser irradiation. In addition, we also demonstrate that Bi2Se3 nanoplates exhibit strong X-ray attenuation and can be utilized for enhanced X-ray computed tomography imaging of tumor tissue in vivo. This study highlights Bi2Se3 nanoplates could serve as a promising platform for cancer diagnosis and therapy.