Effects of Breathing Patterns on Amide Proton Transfer MRI in the Kidney: A Preliminary Comparative Study in Healthy Volunteers and Patients With Tumors.

BACKGROUND: The amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging for kidney diseases is important. However, the breathing patterns on APTw imaging remains unexplored. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intermittent breath-hold (IBH) and free breathing (FB) on renal 3D-APTw imaging. STUDY TYPE: Healthy volunteers were enrolled prospectively, and renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) patients were included retrospectively. POPULATION: 58 healthy volunteers and 10 RCCC patients. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3-T, turbo spin echo, and fast field echo. ASSESSMENT: 3D-APTw imaging was scanned using the IBH and FB methods in volunteers and using the IBH method in RCCC patients. The image quality was evaluated by three observers according to the 5-point Likert scale. Optimal images rated at three points or higher were used to measure the APT values. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The measurement repeatability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman plot. The APT values were analyzed using McNemar's test, one-way analysis of variance, and t test. RESULTS: 50 healthy volunteers and 8 RCCC patients were enrolled. Renal 3D-APTw imaging using the IBH method revealed a higher success rate (88% vs 78%). The ICCs were excellent in the IBH group (ICCs > 0.74) and were good in the FB group (ICCs < 0.74). No significant differences in the APT values among various zones using the IBH (P = 0.263) or FB method (P = 0.506). The mean APT value using the IBH method (2.091% ± 0.388%) was slightly lower than the FB method (2.176% ± 0.292%), but no significant difference (P = 0.233). The APT value of RCCC (4.832% ± 1.361%) was considerably higher than normal renal using the IBH method. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that the IBH method substantially increased the image quality of renal 3D-APTw imaging. Furthermore, APT values may vary between normal and tumor tissues. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

[Clinical features of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in patients with common variable immunodeficiency].

We wished to summarize the clinical features of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) complicated by non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) and to deepen our understanding of it. The case data of CVID complicated with NCPH admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1983 to May 2021 were analyzed retrospectively to summarize their clinical characteristics. Six patients with CVID combined with NCPH (three of each sex; 16-45 years) were assessed. Four patients had portal hypertension. All patients had anemia, splenomegaly, a normal serum level of albumin and transaminases, and possibly increased levels of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Two patients were diagnosed with esophagogastric fundic varices by gastroscopy. Two patients underwent splenectomy (which improved hematologic abnormalities partially). Four patients had autoimmune disease. Two cases were diagnosed with nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) upon liver biopsy. Six patients were administered intravenous immunoglobulin-G (0.4-0.6 g/kg bodyweight) once every 3-4 weeks as basic therapy. Often, CVID complicated with NCPH has: (1) The manifestations of portal hypertension as the primary symptom. (2) Autoimmune-related manifestations. Imaging can provide important diagnostic clues. The etiology may be related to hepatic NRH and splenomegaly due to recurrent infections.

New Methodology for Accurate Determination of Molecular Co-localization at the Nanoscale.

A new methodology using nanoparticle projectile secondary ion mass spectrometry was developed to identify statistically significant co-localization of tagged proteins versus random aggregations at the nanoscale. The custom instrument was run in the unique event-by-event bombardment detection mode with 1040 keV Au28008+ individual projectiles each probing an area with a diameter of ∼20 nm. In a model experiment, antibodies tagged with fluorine, iodine, and bromine were attached on a silicon wafer in a 1:1:1 ratio. To determine whether the three different antibodies were homogeneously distributed at the nanoscale or if there were fluctuations due to the slightly different physical properties of the tags, a "co-localization factor" was introduced. It is shown for the first time that the differences in the hydrophobicity of the tags induced fluctuations, causing differential attachment of the tags at the nanoscale. When tags with the same physical and chemical properties were used, the analysis of co-localization factors shows that the attachment became random.

Effects of probiotics on intestinal flora, inflammation and degree of liver cirrhosis in rats with liver cirrhosis by regulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

We aimed to explore the effects of probiotics on intestinal flora, inflammation and degree of liver cirrhosis in rats with liver cirrhosis, and to verify the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway that regulates this process. A total of 30 SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely, control group (n=10), model group (n=10) and probiotic group (n=10). Rats in the model group were used to construct liver cirrhosis models using carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) method, and those in the probiotic group were administered with probiotic preparations by gavage for 8 weeks. Then the feces of rats in each group were taken to detect the composition of intestinal flora, and changes in the content of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), in peripheral blood collected were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Next, changes in the degree of liver cirrhosis were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and the expression levels of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway-related molecules, including ß-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3ß and Frizzled-2, in liver tissues in each group were detected via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting (WB). Compared with rats in the control group, those in the model group had a disordered structure of hepatic lobule and hyperplasia of a large number of fibrous tissues. In contrast to those in the model group, the liver lobule structure was greatly improved, the edema cells were obviously reduced, and the hyperplasia of collagen fibers was remarkably alleviated in the probiotic group. Moreover, the degree of liver cirrhosis in the probiotic group was significantly reduced compared with that in the model group. Moreover, the rats in the model group exhibited a higher Bifidobacterium level in the intestinal tract, while those in the probiotic group displayed higher levels of microorganisms in the intestinal tract, such as Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Actinbacteria, Slackia and Pasteurellaceae. In comparison with that in the control group, the level of salt-tolerant Lactobacillus in the intestinal tract of rats in the model group was significantly decreased, while that in the probiotic group was partially increased (P=0.023). Meanwhile, some intestinal flora of rats in the control group, model group and probiotic group were closely correlated. Specifically, highly positive correlations were found between Bacteroidetes and Paraeggerthella (r=0.423, P=0.034) and between Firmicutes and Lactobacillus (r=0.318, P=0.027), but strongly negative associations were detected between Firmicutes and Paraeggerthella (r=-0.691, p=0.004) and between Paraeggerthella and Lactobacillus (r=-0.384, P=0.047). In addition, the levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α IL-6, MCP-1 and IFN-γ in the plasma of rats in the model group were markedly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), whereas such levels in the probiotic group were decreased compared with those in the model group (P<0.05). PCR results revealed that the expression levels of ß-catenin and Frizzled-2 in the model group were higher than those in the control group, whereas they were lower in the probiotic group than those in the model group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the model group had a decreased level of GSK-3ß in comparison with the control group, but the probiotic group had a higher level of GSK-3ß than the model group (P<0.05). WB results were consistent with PCR results. Probiotics can affect intestinal flora, inflammation and degree of liver cirrhosis in rats with liver cirrhosis, and its mechanism may be related to the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Long non-coding RNA MIR155HG knockdown suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion in NSCLC by upregulating TP53INP1 directly targeted by miR-155-3p and miR-155-5p.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have proved that lncRNA MIR155 host gene (MIR155HG) is overexpressed in glioma and has elucidated its function. However, its functional role and underlying molecular mechanism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the function and underlying mechanism of MIR155HG in NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Differentially expressed lncRNAs in NSCLC tissue were identified from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The expression of MIR155HG, miR-155-3p, miRNA-155-5p, and tumor protein p53-inducible nuclear protein 1 (TP53INP1) in NSCLC specimens and cells were quantified using quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting analysis. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and transwell invasion assay were performed to evaluate cell viability and the ability of migration and invasion. Luciferase reporter assay was employed to examine whether miR-155-3p and miR-155-5p could bind to TP53INP1 in NSCLC cells. A xenograft tumor model was used to evaluate the biological function of MIR155HG in vivo. RESULTS: Data obtained from the GEO dataset show that MIR155HG is frequently overexpressed in NSCLC tumor tissues and cell lines. Elevated MIR155HG levels were found to be associated with advanced disease stage and poor prognosis of NSCLC. Cell viability, as well as the capability of migration and invasion of NCI-H1975 and A549 cells, was markedly reduced upon MIR155HG knockdown. Mechanistically, bioinformatics analysis and functional assays confirmed that miR-155-5p and miR-155-3p, two derivatives of MIR155HG, contributed to the effect of MIR155HG in NSCLC. It was also found that miR-155-5p or miR-155-3p mimics could dramatically rescue the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion caused by siMIR155HG. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR-155-5p and miR-155-3p mediate the effect of MIR155HG in NSCLC cells by negatively regulating the tumor suppressor TP53INP1. CONCLUSIONS: Current findings indicate that MIR155HG/miR-155 axis facilitates NSCLC progression by downregulating TP53INP1. Therefore, the MIR155HG/miR-155 axis may be a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Relations of hepatic steatosis with liver functions, inflammations, glucolipid metabolism in chronic hepatitis B patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relations between the steatosis and liver functions, inflammations, and glucolipid metabolism in chronic hepatitis B patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 144 chronic hepatitis B patients who were admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to April 2017 were selected and divided into the steatosis group (n=73) and the non-steatosis group (n=71) according to the detection of hepatic puncture biopsy. The general information of the patients including age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) was collected, and patients' liver functions, inflammations, and glucolipid metabolism indicators were determined and compared between the chronic hepatitis patients with steatosis and without steatosis. The chronic hepatitis patients with steatosis were further divided into the normal group and the abnormal group based on the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) (8 mg/L). Besides, according to the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), these patients were divided into the normal liver function group (AST<40 U/L) and the abnormal liver function group (AST>40 U/L), among whom the hepatic steatosis, glucolipid metabolism, and inflammations were compared. At the same time, the chronic hepatitis B patients with steatosis were divided into Group F1, Group F2, and Group F3 based on the fatty degeneration grade, the correlations of steatosis with inflammations, glucolipid metabolism, and liver functions were analyzed. At last, the regression analyses between steatosis and the inflammation grade, glucolipid metabolism and liver function indicators were conducted for Group F1, F2, and F3, respectively. RESULTS: In the chronic hepatitis B patients with steatosis, liver function indicators-alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST, levels of inflammatory factors-interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6 and CRP and glucolipid metabolism indicators-fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2h postprandial blood glucose (2h PBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly higher than those without steatosis (p<0.05). The steatosis, liver functions, and glucolipid metabolism indicators were statistically different between patients in the normal inflammatory factor group and the abnormal inflammatory factor group (p<0.06). In addition, the liver function indicators (ALT and AST) and glucolipid metabolism indicators (FBG, 2h PBG, FINS, TG, TC, HDL, and LDL) in the abnormal group were statistically higher than those of normal inflammatory factor group (p<0.05). In the normal liver function group, the average fatty degeneration grade was statistically lower than that in the abnormal liver function group (p<0.05), and glucolipid metabolism indicators (FBG, 2h PBG, FINS, TG, TC, IL-2, IL-6, CRP, HDL, and LDL) were also markedly lower than those in the abnormal liver function group (p<0.05). The steatosis was positively correlated with relevant indicators, including the blood glucose indicator of FBG (r=0.509, p<0.05), liver function indicator of AST (r=0.602, p<0.05), the blood lipid indicator of TG (r=0.740, p<0.05), and the inflammatory factor of CRP (r=0.882, p<0.05), respectively. The disease course, BMI, 2h FBG, FINS, TG, TC, HDL, LDL, AST, ALT, and inflammatory factors of IL-2, IL-6, and CRP were involved in risk factors of steatosis (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrates that the steatosis is correlated with liver functions, glucolipid metabolism and inflammation level in chronic hepatitis B patients, and the foregoing indicators can affect the disease development of chronic hepatitis B patients with steatosis.

The fabrication of highly conductive and flexible Ag patterning through baking Ag nanosphere-nanoplate hybrid ink at a low temperature of 100 °C.

With the aim of developing highly conductive ink for flexible electronics on heat-sensitive substrates, Ag nanospheres and nanoplates were mixed to synthesize hybrid inks. Five kinds of hybrid ink and two types of pure ink were written to square shape on Epson photo paper using rollerball pens, and sintered at a low temperature (100 °C). The microstructure, electrical resistivity, surface porosity, hardness and flexibility of silver patterns were systematically investigated and compared. It was observed that the optimal mixing ratio of nanospheres and nanoplates was 1:1, which equipped the directly written pattern with excellent electrical and mechanical properties. The electrical resistivity was 0.103 µΩ · m, only 6.5 times that of bulk silver. The enhancement compared to pure silver nanospheres or nanoplates based ink was due to the combined action of nanospheres and nanoplates. This demonstrates a valuable way to prepare Ag nanoink with good performance for printed/written electronics.

EFFECT OF PREGNANE XENOBIOTIC RECEPTOR ACTIVATION ON INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE TREATED WITH RIFAXIMIN.

The causes and pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are still not clearly understood. This study aims to prove the important role of rifaximin played in inflammatory reaction caused by abnormity of the intestinal mucosal immune system. Intestinal microflora can greatly promote and maintain the inflammatory reaction of IBD, therefore, antibiotics can be used to treat IBD. Rifaximin is a medicine usually used for local intestinal infection. Many clinical and basic studies have shown that both a single application of rifaximin and the joint application with other medicines could achieve a good efficacy. This paper studied the activation of Pregnane Xenobiotic Receptor (PXR) in treating IBD with rifaximin and analyzed its efficacy in IBD when PXR was involved in the transport of medicine and metabolism. The results prove that rifaximin can not only serve as an anti-microbial drug, but can activate PXR and actually weaken the reaction of IBD. Thus it is safe to say that rifaximin has great potential in treating IBD.

Ag-graphene hybrid conductive ink for writing electronics.

With the aim of preparing a method for the writing of electronics on paper by the use of common commercial rollerball pens loaded with conductive ink, hybrid conductive ink composed of Ag nanoparticles (15 wt%) and graphene-Ag composite nanosheets (0.15 wt%) formed by depositing Ag nanoparticles (∼10 nm) onto graphene sheets was prepared for the first time. Owing to the electrical pathway effect of graphene and the decreased contact resistance of graphene junctions by depositing Ag nanoparticles (NPs) onto graphene sheets, the concentration of Ag NPs was significantly reduced while maintaining high conductivity at a curing temperature of 100 ° C. A typical resistivity value measured was 1.9 × 10(-7) Ω m, which is 12 times the value for bulk silver. Even over thousands of bending cycles or rolling, the resistance values of writing tracks only increase slightly. The stability and flexibility of the writing circuits are good, demonstrating the promising future of this hybrid ink and direct writing method.

Pressure-assisted low-temperature sintering for paper-based writing electronics.

With the aim of preparing paper-based writing electronics, a kind of conductive pen was made with nano-silver ink as the conductive component and a rollerball pen as the writing implement. This was used to direct-write conductive patterns on Epson photo paper. In order to decrease the sintering temperature, pressure was introduced to enhance the driving forces for sintering. Compared with hot sintering without pressure, hot-pressure can effectively improve the conductivity of silver coatings, reduce the sintering time and thus improve productivity. Importantly, pressure can achieve a more uniform and denser microstructure, which increases the connection strength of the silver coating. At the optimum hot-pressure condition (sintering temperature 120 ° C/sintering pressure 25 MPa/sintering time 15 min), a typical measured resistivity value was 1.43 × 10⁻7 Ω m, nine greater than that of bulk silver. This heat treatment process is compatible with paper and does not cause any damage to the paper substrates. Even after several thousand bending cycles, the resistivity values of writing tracks by hot-pressure sintering stay almost the same (from 1.43 × 10⁻7 to 1.57 × 10⁻7 Ω m). The stability and flexibility of the writing circuits are good, which demonstrates the promising future of writing electronics.

MRI appearance of multiple eccrine spiradenoma.

Multiple eccrine spiradenoma is one of the rarest tumours of the sweat gland. We report a case of multiple eccrine spiradenoma that was distributed in several parts of the body. On MRI the lesions presented with multiple dispersive foci with clear circumferences in the cutis and the subcutaneous tissue. The lesions showed low signal intensity on T1 weighted images, and high signal intensity on short tau inversion recovery images. Although the signal intensities of the lesions were not characteristic in this patient, multiple eccrine spiradenoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of the lesions in the cutis and the subcutaneous tissue.