Objectives: Bone immune disorders are major contributors to osteoporosis development. This study aims to identify potential diagnostic markers and molecular targets for osteoporosis treatment from an immunological perspective. Method: We downloaded dataset GSE56116 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal and osteoporosis groups. Subsequently, differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs) were identified, and a functional enrichment analysis was performed. A protein-protein interaction network was also constructed based on data from STRING database to identify hub genes. Following external validation using an additional dataset (GSE35959), effective biomarkers were confirmed using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. ROC curves were constructed to validate the diagnostic values of the identified biomarkers. Finally, a ceRNA and a transcription factor network was constructed, and a Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis was performed to explore the biological functions of these diagnostic markers. Results: In total, 307 and 31 DEGs and DEIRGs were identified, respectively. The enrichment analysis revealed that the DEIRGs are mainly associated with Gene Ontology terms of positive regulation of MAPK cascade, granulocyte chemotaxis, and cytokine receptor. protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed 10 hub genes: FGF8, KL, CCL3, FGF4, IL9, FGF9, BMP7, IL17RA, IL12RB2, CD40LG. The expression level of IL17RA was also found to be significantly high. RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of IL17RA was significantly higher in osteoporosis patients compared to the normal group, as evidenced by the area under the curve Area Under Curve of 0.802. Then, we constructed NEAT1-hsa-miR-128-3p-IL17RA, and SNHG1-hsa-miR-128-3p-IL17RA ceRNA networks in addition to ERF-IL17RA, IRF8-IL17RA, POLR2A-IL17RA and ERG-IL17RA transcriptional networks. Finally, functional enrichment analysis revealed that IL17RA was involved in the development and progression of osteoporosis by regulating local immune and inflammatory processes in bone tissue. Conclusion: This study identifies the immune-related gene IL17RA as a diagnostic marker of osteoporosis from an immunological perspective, and provides insight into its biological function.
Objectives: This study aims to identify the key senescence genes and potential regulatory mechanisms that contribute to the etiology of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Method: We analyzed GSE34095 and GSE70362 datasets, identifying key senescence-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in IDD using lasso regression. Risk scores classified patients into high- and low-risk groups. We compared pathways, functions, and immune infiltration between these groups. Diagnostic ability was assessed using ROC curves and a nomogram predicted IDD incidence. In single-cell dataset GSE165722, we evaluated expression of key senescence-related DEGs. Results: We identified 12 key senescence-related DEGs distinguishing high- and low-risk IDD patients. Enrichment analysis revealed cellular stress response, apoptotic signaling pathway, and protein kinase activation differences. Immune cell analysis showed elevated eosinophils in low-risk group and increased effector memory CD8 T, central memory CD4 T, myeloid-derived suppressor, natural killer, monocyte, Type 1 T helper, plasmacytoid dendritic, and natural killer T cells in high-risk group. A nomogram using AUC >0.75 genes (CXCL8, MAP4K4, MINK1, and TNIK) predicted IDD incidence with good diagnostic power. High senescence scores were observed in neutrophils. Conclusion: Our diagnostic model, based on key senescence-related DEGs and immune cell infiltration, offers new insights into IDD pathogenesis and immunotherapy strategies.
Objective The left ventricular myocardial strain of acute myocardial infarction on cardiac magnetic resonance cine imaging was measured by feature tracking technique. The relationship between left ventricular myocardial strain and the transmural extent of Myocardial Infarction was evaluated. Methods 74 patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction were included. All theses patients received primary PCI within 12 hours. After 2 to 5 days. ECG gated steady-state free precession sequences were collected. Gadolinium contrast enhanced imaging was performed on short axis. 20 patients repeated same scan after 3 to 5 months. TomTec 2D CPA and Segment software were used to analyze the images. The peak values of the regional myocardial strain indexes. The transmural extent of myocardial infarction of segment in left ventricular was measured. Results There was no significant difference of longitudinal strain in non-infarction,non-transmural infarction and transmural infarction segments at the basal and middle segments. The circumferential strain peak and the radial strain peak of non-transmural infarction segments were lower than those of the non-infarction segments. The circumferential strain of transmural infarction segments were the lowest(basal level:-14.24％±9.05％,P<0.05;middle level:-12.71％±8.92％,P<0.05;apical level:-13.81％±11.13％, P<0.05). GLS was improved while LVDd was increased when compared the acute phase of myocardial infarction to that of 3-5 months after primary PCI. The circumferential strain and longitudinal strain of the non-transmural infarction segments was improved. The circumferential strain and radial strain of the transmural infarction segments 3-5 months later was improved as compared to the acute phase. Conclusions There was differences in myocardial strain in non-infarction,non-transmural infarction and transmural infarction segments from patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction who had accepted primary PCI. The circumferential strain and longitudinal strain of the non-transmural infarction segments were improved after 3-5 months. The circumferential strain and radial strain of the transmural infarction segments after 3-5 months was improved as compared to the acute phase. Cardiac Magnetic resonance could combine feature tracking technique with gadolinium contrast delayed enhancement technique,giving both function and tissue characteristic evaluation to the myocardial damages after acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlations between atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and inflammatory activity by combined use of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Patients underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT and MRI. Target/background ratios (TBR) of axial sections were determined from mean standard uptake values (SUV). Correlations between TBR and mean vessel wall thickness, total vessel area, lumen area, vessel wall area and normalized wall index were calculated. Plaque types were defined as calcified, collagen, lipid or haemorrhage. Plaques were also classified as thick, thin, or ruptured fibrous cap. RESULTS: The study included 31 patients (1178 plaque slices). There was a significant decrease in TBR values across the fibrous cap groups, such that ruptured > thin > thick. Lipid and haemorrhage plaques had significantly higher TBR than calcification and collagen plaques. There were weak positive correlations between TBR and mean vessel wall thickness, vessel wall area and normalized wall index. CONCLUSIONS: Thin or ruptured plaques, lipid-rich plaques and haemorrhagic plaques possess high inflammatory activity. The combination of (18)F-FDG PET/CT and MRI could be useful for qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
Carotid Artery Diseases/diagnosis , Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Positron-Emission Tomography/methods , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carotid Artery Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multimodal Imaging
Controllable synthesis of morphology and composition of functional material through a similar method is very necessary to understand the related properties. In this study, we report a facile solvothermal route to synthesize a series of bismuth oxyiodide compounds, including BiOI, Bi7O9I3, and Bi4O5I2 hierarchical microspheres, under relatively mild conditions through only adjusting the types of alcohols. It was found that the viscosity of alcohol played key roles in determining the morphologies and compositions of the final products. UV-visible diffuse-reflectance spectra and theoretic calculations indicated that bismuth oxyiodides with different ratios of Bi:O:I clearly possessed different light absorption and energy band structures. As a result, the as-synthesized BiOI, Bi7O9I3, and Bi4O5I2 hierarchical microspheres displayed morphology- and composition-dependent photocatalytic activities for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and colorless phenol under visible-light irradiation. On the basis of experimental results, the difference of photocatalytic activity of these bismuth oxyiodide compounds was discussed. Furthermore, hierarchical bismuth oxyiodide microspheres were also evaluated as adsorbents for removing phosphate from aqueous solution. The results showed that Bi7O9I3 and Bi4O5I2 hierarchical microspheres had good adsorption capabilities for phosphate in water because of their larger surface areas and hierarchical porous structures.
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the value of phase ordering with automatic window selection(PAWS)and simultaneous multiple volume(SMV)algorithm double respiratory navigator-gated two-dimensional(2DNAV)dual inversion recovery(DIR)fast spin echo(FSE)high-resolution black-blood coronary artery wall magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and evaluate its advantages and limitations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PAWS and SMV 2DNAV DIR FSE high-resolution black-blood MRI was performed in 21 healthy volunteers. The images were evaluated qualitatively by using four grades(grade 0can not evaluate;grade 1bad;grade 2good;grade 3perfect). Images defined as grade 0 and grade 1 were excluded and those defined as grade 2 and 3 were evaluated further. Thickness of proximal(or middle)segment of right coronary artery(RCA)and left anterior descending branch(LAD)were measured. The difference of wall thickness was analyzed by using two-tailed independent sample t-test. P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 38 slice images,31 slices(RCA13 slices,LAD18 slices;grade 214 slices,grade 317 slices)were obtained for further evaluation. The mean thickness of RCA and LAD was(0.94±0.16)and(0.89±0.15)mm,respectively,and the difference was not significant(t=-0.790,P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PAWS and SMV algorithm 2DNAV DIR FSE high-resolution black-blood MRI has certain clinical value for coronary artery wall imaging.</p>
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Coronary Vessels , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Methods
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Monocytes and macrophages in atherosclerotic plaque lead to plaque instability. The aim of the study was to determine if plaque neovascularization led to inflammation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients were consecutively enrolled if their carotid intimal media thickness was > 2 mm, as revealed by duplex ultrasound. The patients then underwent dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET CT). A target to background ratio (TBR) of ≥ 1.25 or < 1.25 served as the cutoff point for the presence and absence of inflammation, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-six patients underwent bilateral carotid DCE MRI and 24 patients also underwent PET CT. One hundred and fifty-five plaques were evaluated by both DCE MRI and PET CT. There was no significant difference in plaque morphology between the TBR ≥ 1.25 (n = 61) and TBR < 1.25 (n = 94) groups. No significant differences were found in plasma volume and transfer constant between the TBR ≥ 1.25 and TBR < 1.25 groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our study did not find a significant correlation between plaque neovascularization and the aggregation of inflammatory cells.</p>
Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Carotid Artery Diseases , Pathology , Cell Aggregation , Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Inflammation , Pathology , Macrophages , Pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neovascularization, Pathologic , Plaque, Atherosclerotic , Pathology , Positron-Emission Tomography , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the diagnostic value of MRI and MR arthrography in the detection of injuries of anterior labrum in shoulder and to evaluate the accuracy of MR arthrography in the classification of anterior labrum lesion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-eight patients with arthroscopically proved anterior labrum lesions(study group) and 75 patients with arthroscopically proved intact anterior labrum (control group) from January 2007 to December 2010 were included to the study. All patients underwent MRI and MR arthrography at our institution prior to shoulder arthroscopy. All MRI and MR arthrography were analyzed by one musculoskeletal radiologists and one sports medicine surgeon who had no knowledge of the clinical histories and arthroscopic results. The same classification system of labrum lesions based on arthroscopy was used in image analysis. Imaging findings and arthroscopic findings were compared in all patients. With arthroscopy used as the standard of reference, the sensitivities, specificities and accuracies of MRI and MR arthrography in the detection of anterior labrum lesions were compared, and the sensitivities, specificities and accuracies of MR arthrography in the correct classification of anterior labrum lesions were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In arthroscopy, 78 anterior labrum lesions, 67 rotator cuff lesions and 8 SLAP lesions were diagnosed, for the detection of anterior labrum lesions, the sensitivity of MRI and MR arthrography was 80.8% and 92.3%,the specificity was 89.3% and 97.3%,the accuracy was 85.0% and 94.8% respectively. Seventy-eight patients with arthroscopically proved anterior labrum lesions included 39 Bankart lesions, 32 ALPSA lesions and 7 Perthes lesions, with MR arthrography, Bankart, ALPSA, and Perthes lesions were correctly classified in 84.6%, 84.4%, and 57.1% of cases, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MR arthrography has a higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy than MRI in the detection of anterior labrum injuries. MR arthrography was useful in the classification of different variants of anterior labrum injuries before operations. It may directly influence the surgeon's strategy and is useful in preoperative planning of arthroscopic reconstructions.</p>
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Arthrography , Methods , Arthroscopy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Methods , Shoulder Joint , Wounds and Injuries
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of transrectal real-time tissue elastography (TRTE) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: Eighty-four patients with suspected PCa and scheduled for prostate biopsies underwent TRTE, digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The findings of TRTE were compared with those of other examinations and pathological findings. RESULTS: Of these 84 patients, 36 had benign lesions and 48 had PCa. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 91.7%, 72.2%, 83.3%, 81.5%, and 86.7% for TRTE and 85.4%ì63.9%ì76.2%, 75.9%, and 76.7% for TRUS (P>0.05), while its specificity (72.2%) was significantly higher than that of MRI (44.4%) (P=0.03). The TRTE findings were not significantly correlated with the pathological findings and serum total prostate specific antigen (P>0.05), and the diagnostic sensitivity of TRTE decreased along with the enlargement of prostate. However, the diagnostic specificity of TRTE was higher than MRI for nodules with soft to medium texture (P=0.04).For PCa, the diagnostic sensitivity of TRTE increased when the Gleanson scores of tumors increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TRTE can be used as a diagnostic test to supplement clinical diagnosis of PCa.
Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Rectum/diagnostic imaging , Sensitivity and Specificity
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the method of MR guided anterior direct arthrogaphy of shoulder and its clinical applications.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 2008.4 to 2008.10, 40 patients with rotator-cuff tear (29 males and 11 females, ranging in age from 22 to 70 years, with an average of 35 years) underwent MR guided anterior direct arthrogaphy of shoulder, so as to diagnosis shoulder wound. The results were compared to that of arthroscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Shoulder arthrography showed lesons in 36 patients, and failure in 2 patients, including contrast media extravasation in 1 patient, and gas entry to joint cavity in 1 patient. Two patients showed no rotator cuff injuries. Twenty-eight patients were confirmed by arthroscopy as rotator-cuff injured in different degree. Twenty-six patients were confirmed injuries by both arthroscopy and MR guided anterior direct arthrogaphy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MR guided anterior direct arthrogaphy of shoulder as a minimally invasive method in displaying the rotator-cuff tear has higher accuracy and wide clinical application prospect.</p>
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Arthrography , Methods , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Methods , Shoulder Joint , Diagnostic Imaging
