Accuracy of non-gated low-dose non-contrast chest CT with tin filtration for coronary artery calcium scoring.

Objective: The study investigated the accuracy of coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) and the potential for reducing radiation dose using non-gated low-dose non-contrast chest computed tomography (CT) scanning with tin filtration for one-stop screening of the lungs and heart. Methods: A prospective study was conducted,193 Patients received two scans for determining CACS, including an ECG-gated CT at 120 kV (ECG-gated CT), followed by a non-gated low-dose chest CT using 100 kV with tin filtration (non-gated Sn100 kV-LDCT). The Agatston score (AS), risk stratification, and radiation dose were compared between the scan types. Results: There was good consistency in the AS from both an ECG-gated CT and a non-gated low-dose chest CT scan, which had a high correlation (r = 0.970). The Kappa value of risk stratification of the two scan types was 0.549. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the CACS was used to develop a new risk stratification standard for non-gated Sn100 kV-LDCT evaluation of CACS. In comparison to the CACS measured by ECG-gated CT, non-gated Sn100 kV-LDCT had an AUC of 0.951 and an optimal critical value of 4.6 in the low-risk category. The AUC of low-medium risk was 0.966, and the optimal critical value was 41.2. The AUC of the medium-high risk category was 0.968, and the optimal critical value was 230. The consistency in CACS measured by ECG-gated CT and non-gated Sn100 kV-LDCT had a Kappa value of 0.831. The Effective dose (ED) of non-gated Sn100 kV-LDCT and ECG-gated CT was 0.056 ± 0.017 mSv and 0.685 ± 0.455 mSv, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Agatston score of CACS using non-gated low-dose chest CT was accurate, but there was an underestimation in risk stratification. This study developed a new risk stratification standard for non-gated Sn100 kV-LDCT evaluation of CACS, which is in closer agreement with CACS derived from ECG-gated CT scans.

WGCNA Analysis Identifies Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Associated Circular RNAs That Interact with RNA-Binding Proteins and Sponge miRNAs.

OBJECTIVE: Dysfunction of cumulus granulosa cells has been suggested as a contributor to abnormal folliculogenesis and the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Recent studies indicate that circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert important roles for diseases. We aimed to screen crucial circRNAs of PCOS patients and predict their functions. METHODS: The high-throughput datasets of circRNAs (GSE145296), microRNAs (miRNAs; GSE72274) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs; GSE155489) in cumulus cells of PCOS patients and controls were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs), miRNAs (DEMs) and protein-coding genes (DEGs) were identified by the limma method. The weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted using the DECs to mine PCOS-associated modules. Hub DECs in modules were defined as both of |gene significance| and |module membership| >0.8. The downstream effectors of hub DECs were predicted by constructing DEC-DEM-DEG ceRNA and DEC-RNA binding protein (RBP) networks. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed to explore the functions of circRNAs. RESULTS: A total of 3614 DECs, 3544 DEGs and 1469 DEMs were identified between PCOS and controls. WGCNA analysis yielded five PCOS-related modules, of which 190 DECs were hub circRNAs. Seventeen hub DECs, nine DEMs, and 315 DEGs were identified to construct the ceRNA network, while 56 hub DECs and two DEGs (MBNL2, RBPMS) constituted the circRNA-RBP network. Five hub DECs (hsa_circ_0063309, hsa_circ_0054275, hsa_circ_0056196, hsa_circ_0018108 and hsa_circ_0070987) were overlapped between ceRNA and DEC-MBNL2 regulatory networks and thus they may be pivotal for PCOS. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0099109 could interact with the RBP gene RBPMS. Function analyses showed these circRNAs were inflammation-, apoptosis- or steroidogenesis-related. CONCLUSION: Aberrant expression of six circRNAs that function as RBP regulators or miRNA sponges may be possible mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of PCOS by affecting apoptosis and steroidogenesis in cumulus cells.

Serum interleukin-6 level is correlated with the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a crucial role in systemic autoimmunity and pathologic inflammation. Numerous studies have explored serum IL-6 levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their correlation with disease activity. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the correlation between the serum IL-6 levels and SLE activity. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were thoroughly searched for relevant studies up to September 2019. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to describe the differences between serum IL-6 levels in SLE patients and healthy controls and between those in active SLE patients and inactive SLE patients. The correlation between the serum IL-6 levels and disease activity was evaluated using Fisher's z values. A total of 24 studies involving 1817 SLE patients and 874 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than in the healthy controls (pooled SMD: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.21-3.03, Active SLE patients had higher serum IL-6 levels than inactive SLE patients (pooled SMD: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.21-3.03). Furthermore, the pooled Fisher's z values (pooled Fisher's z=0.36, 95% CI: 0.26-0.46, p<0.01) showed that there was a positive correlation between the serum IL-6 levels and SLE activity. This study suggested that serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with SLE than in healthy controls, and they were positively correlated with disease activity when Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index>4 was defined as active SLE. More homogeneous studies with large sample sizes are warranted to confirm our findings due to several limitations in our meta-analysis.

A Network Meta-Analysis of Efficacy of Different Interventions in the Prevention of Postoperative Intrauterine Adhesions.

This network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy of six interventions, including anti-blocking agents, intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs), estrogens, intrauterine balloon, Foley catheter, and amnion graft for the prevention of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs). We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to December 2016. Cohort studies meeting these six interventions in the prevention of IUAs were included. The combination of direct and indirect evidence was conducted to assess the odds ratio (OR) or weighted mean differences and surface under the cumulative ranking curves of the six interventions in the prevention of postoperative IUAs. Finally, 12 eligible cohort studies were included in this network meta-analysis. The results of this network meta-analysis demonstrated that during 1 to 2 months after operation, compared with the surgical group, anti-blocking agent, and estrogens presented with relatively low ratios of postoperative IUAs (OR = 0.30 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.10-0.67; OR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.01-0.78, respectively). Compared with IUDs, estrogens exerted comparatively low ratio of postoperative IUAs (OR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.01-0.90), which indicated that anti-blocking agent and estrogens had relatively better prevention efficacy. The cluster analysis showed that estrogens had relatively better efficacy in the prevention postoperative IUAs. Overall, our findings support that estrogens had relatively better efficacy in the prevention of postoperative IUAs.

Serum interleukin-6 level is correlated with the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a crucial role in systemic autoimmunity and pathologic inflammation. Numerous studies have explored serum IL-6 levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their correlation with disease activity. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the correlation between the serum IL-6 levels and SLE activity. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were thoroughly searched for relevant studies up to September 2019. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to describe the differences between serum IL-6 levels in SLE patients and healthy controls and between those in active SLE patients and inactive SLE patients. The correlation between the serum IL-6 levels and disease activity was evaluated using Fisher's z values. A total of 24 studies involving 1817 SLE patients and 874 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than in the healthy controls (pooled SMD: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.21-3.03, Active SLE patients had higher serum IL-6 levels than inactive SLE patients (pooled SMD: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.21-3.03). Furthermore, the pooled Fisher's z values (pooled Fisher's z=0.36, 95% CI: 0.26-0.46, p<0.01) showed that there was a positive correlation between the serum IL-6 levels and SLE activity. This study suggested that serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with SLE than in healthy controls, and they were positively correlated with disease activity when Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index>4 was defined as active SLE. More homogeneous studies with large sample sizes are warranted to confirm our findings due to several limitations in our meta-analysis.

Anti-Müllerian hormone inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells by regulating the cell cycle and decreasing the secretion of stem cell factor.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been demonstrated to exhibit an inhibitory effect on the proliferation, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance of ovarian cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In the present study, 10 µg/ml recombinant human AMH (rhAMH) was administered to human OVCAR3 and OVCAR8 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cell lines. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed. The level of stem cell factor (SCF) was detected using a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and an ELISA, respectively. The exogenous addition of rhAMH significantly reduced the proliferation of OVCAR3 and OVCAR8 cell lines compared with the control group (P<0.01). The apoptosis rate in the rhAMH treated group (48 h) significantly increased compared with in the control group (OVCAR3, P=0.035; OVCAR8, P=0.020). The apoptosis rate increased at 72 h but did not exhibit a significant difference when compared with the 48 h group (OVCAR3, P=0.145; OVCAR8, P=0.296). The percentage of cells in the G1 phase in the rhAMH treated group (48 h) increased but was not significantly different compared with the control group (OVCAR3, P=0.070; OVCAR8, P=0.051). However, there was a significant difference at 72 h compared with the control group (OVCAR3, P=0.016; OVCAR8, P=0.019). At 48 h, the rhAMH-treated group exhibited a statistically significant inhibition of SCF mRNA expression levels (P=0.008), but no significant difference in the protein expression levels (P=0.101) compared with the control, though a significant inhibition was exhibited at 72 h (mRNA expression levels, P=0.005; protein expression levels, P=0.036). The present study revealed that rhAMH may be able to inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of EOC cells via G1/S-phase cell cycle arrest and the decreased secretion of SCF.

A unique quantitative method of acid value of edible oils and studying the impact of heating on edible oils by UV-Vis spectrometry.

UV-Vis spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics was used effectively to study the impact of heating on edible oils (corn oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, peanut oil, soybean oil and sesame oil) and determine their acid value. Analysis of their first derivative spectra showed that the peak at 370 nm was a common indicator of the heated oils. Partial least squares regression (PLS) and principle component regression (PCR) were applied to building individual quantitative models of acid value for each kind of oil, respectively. The PLS models had a better performance than PCR models, with determination coefficients (R(2)) of 0.9904-0.9977 and root mean square errors (RMSE) of 0.0230-0.0794 for the prediction sets of each kind of oil, respectively. An integrate quantitative model built by support vector regression for all the six kinds of oils was also developed and gave a satisfactory prediction with a R(2) of 0.9932 and a RMSE of 0.0656.

[Effects of visfatin and metformin on insulin resistance and reproductive endocrine in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutical effects of visfatin and metformin on insulin resistance and reproductive endocrine disorder in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Forty female Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups, and in groups A, B and C, the rats were injected subcutaneously with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) for PCOS modeling, with group D as the blank control injected with soybean oil. Vaginal smears and serological testing were taken to assess the modeling. After the modeling, the rats in group A received 10 µg reorganized visfatin injection and those in group B were treated with metformin (14 mg/100 g) on a daily basis for 15 days. Serum levels of T, LH, FSH, FINS and blood glucose levels during OGTT were measured before and after the treatments, and HOMA-IR and LH to FSH ratio were calculated. The ovaries were then dissected for pathological examination. RESULTS: In groups A and B, FINS, FPG, T, HOMA-IR and blood glucose levels during OGTT were significantly decreased after the treatments (P<0.05), which resulted in recovery of regular menses in 8 (80%) rats in group A and 7 (77.8%) rats in group B with the development of normal follicles. Visfatin and metformin produced equivalent therapeutic effects in improving the insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in PCOS rats. CONCLUSION: Visfatin and metformin have equivalent therapeutic effects in improving insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism and in promoting the recovery of regular menses and development of normal follicles in PCOS rats.

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of 9,10-diphenylanthracene, rubrene, and anthracene in fluorinated aromatic solvents.

The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA), rubrene, and anthracene has been studied in fluorinated aromatic solvents. Mixed annihilation ECL between aromatic luminophores and quinones was observed in solvent systems containing acetonitrile and either benzene, benzotrifluoride, 3-fluorobenzotrifluoride, or 1,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene. Increases in ECL efficiency (phi ecl, photons generated per redox event) correlated with decreasing solvent polarity when 1,4-benzoquinone was used as a nonemitting ECL partner. However, opposite results were observed using 1,4-naphthaoquinone (NQ) as a nonemitting partner. phi ecl also correlated with radical anion stability of NQ in these solvent systems, as indicated by reverse/forward current ratios ( I r/ I f), suggesting noncovalent interactions between the solvent and the nonemitting ECL partner. Specifically, the reaction of an aromatic luminophore with 1,4-naphthoquinone in acetonitrile/benzotrifluoride showed a 1.03-1.63-fold increases in ECL efficiency over that of acetonitrile/benzene. Slight blue shifts ( approximately 3 nm) in photoluminescence and ECL emissions were seen as solvent polarity increased. Reaction enthalpies of each system were estimated using half-wave potentials of oxidation and reduction and were found to correlate well with emission energy.

Alteration in prehospital drug concentration after thermal exposure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the remaining concentration of 23 commonly carried emergency medical services medications used in the United States after they have experienced thermal extremes that have been documented in the prehospital environment for a period of 1 month. METHODS: Pharmaceuticals were thermally cycled (-6 degrees C and 54 degrees C) every 12 hours and then assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Eight (35%) of 23 prehospital pharmaceuticals revealed ending concentrations of less than 90% with strong correlation to thermal exposure time. These included lidocaine, diltiazem, dopamine, nitroglycerin, ipratropium, succinylcholine, haloperidol, and naloxone. CONCLUSION: A decrease in concentration was found to be statistically significant in 8 (35%) of 23 commonly carried emergency medical services pharmaceuticals. These results provide new information and perspective regarding stability of emergency drugs in the prehospital environment by evaluating a broad range of pharmaceuticals as well as by using thermal exposure points that have been documented in the United States.