Diffusion-weighted, intravoxel incoherent motion, and diffusion kurtosis tensor MR imaging in chronic kidney diseases: Correlations with histology.

OBJECTIVES: To probe the correlations of parameters derived from standard DWI and its extending models including intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) with the pathological and functional alterations in CKD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-nine CKD patients with renal biopsy and 10 volunteers were performed with DWI, IVIM, diffusion kurtosis tensor imaging (DKTI) scanning. Correlations between imaging results and the pathological damage [glomerulosclerosis index (GSI) and tubulointerstitial fibrosis index (TBI)], as well as eGFR, 24 h urinary protein and Scr) were evaluated.CKD patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1: both GSI and TBI scores <2 points (61 cases); group 2: both GSI and TBI scores ≥2 points (18 cases). RESULTS: There were significant difference in cortical and medullary MD, and cortical D among 3 groups and between group 1 and 2. Cortical and medullary MD, cortical D, and medullary FA were negatively correlated with GSI score (r = -0.322 to -0.386, P < 0.05). Cortical and medullary MD and D, medullary FA were also negatively correlated with TBI score (r = -0.257 to -0.395, P < 0.05). These parameters were all correlated with eGFR and Scr. Cortical MD and D showed the highest AUC of 0.790 and 0.745 in discriminating mild and moderate-severe glomerulosclerosis and tubular interstitial fibrosis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The corrected diffusion-related indices, including cortical and medullary D and MD, as well as medullary FA were superior to ADC, perfusion-related and kurtosis indices for evaluating the severity of renal pathology and function in CKD patients.

Effects of liraglutide or lifestyle interventions combined with other antidiabetic drugs on abdominal fat distribution in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus evaluated by the energy spectrum ct: A prospective randomized controlled study.

Objective: To study the effects of liraglutide or lifestyle interventions combined with other antidiabetic drugs on glucose metabolism and abdominal fat distribution in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: From April 30, 2020, to April 30, 2022, a prospective randomized controlled study was carried out at the Endocrinology Department of Beijing Hospital, the National Center of Gerontology. According to the in- and exclusion criteria and by the random table method, revisited T2DM patients were selected as the research subjects and were allocated into a Study group (taking liraglutide) and a Control group (underwent lifestyle interventions). All patients received continuous 12-weeks interventions to the endpoint, and the changes of value [Δ=(endpoint)-(baseline)] of physical measurements, blood tests, the energy spectrum CT examination results, and body composition analysis results were analyzed and compared. Results: A total of 85 people completed this study, and among them, 47 were in the Study group and 38 were in the Control group. Compared with the Control group, the changes of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level (-0.78 ± 1.03% vs. -1.57 ± 2.00%, P=0.025), visceral fat area (0.91 ± 16.59 cm2 vs. -7.1 ± 10.17 cm2, P=0.011), and subcutaneous fat area of abdomen [0 (-18.75, 15.5) cm2 vs. -16.5 (-41.75, -2.25) cm2, P=0.014] were all greater in the Study group. The adverse events caused by liraglutide were mainly concentrated in the gastrointestinal system and all of them were minor adverse events. Conclusion: Liraglutide can be the drug of choice for weight management and reduction of abdominal fat distribution in patients with obesity and T2DM.

Analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of Monochasma savatieri Franch. ex Maxim using novel EST-SSR markers.

BACKGROUND: Monochasma savatieri Franch. ex Maxim is a medicinally valuable herb. However, the collection and protection of the wild germplasm resources of M. savatieri are still insufficient, and their genetic diversity and population structure have been poorly studied. RESULTS: We collected and examined 46 M. savatieri individuals from Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces for genetic diversity and population structure, using 33 newly developed expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers. Applying these markers, we detected a total of 208 alleles, with an average of 6.303 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content varied from 0.138 to 0.884 (average: 0.668), indicating a high level of polymorphism. At the population level, there was a low degree of genetic diversity among populations (I = 0.535, He = 0.342), with Zhejiang individuals showing the highest genetic diversity among the four populations (Fst = 0.497), which indicated little gene flow within the M. savatieri populations (Nm = 0.253). Mantel test analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between geographical and genetic distance among populations (R2 = 0.3304, p < 0.05), and structure and principal coordinate analyses supported classification of populations into three clusters, which was consistent with the findings of cluster analysis. CONCLUSIONS: As a rare medicinal plants, the protection of M. savatieri does not look optimistic, and accordingly, protective efforts should be beefed up on the natural wild populations. This study provided novel tools and insights for designing effective collection and conservation strategies for M. savatieri.

[Study of the relationship between the acupoints of Zhongzhu (TE 3), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and their corresponding cortical areas with the functional MRI].

OBJECTIVE: Using the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe the distributed characteristic of excited cerebral cortical areas that induced by acupuncture-stimulating the Zhongzhu (TE 3) of the meridian of Hand-Shaoyang and Yanglingquan (GB 34) of the meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, and investigate the central neural mechanism on the effect of meridians and acupoints. METHODS: Forty-two right handed healthy volunteers were randomly divided into Zhongzhu (TE 3) group and Yanglingquan (GB 34) group. The functional cortical changes during acupuncture-stimulating the Zhongzhu (TE 3) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) were successively scanned with fMRI, and the effected areas were determined through analysing the obtained data with SPM2 software. RESULTS: The main excited areas were bilateral frontal lobes, temporal lobes, cerebellum and occipital lobes successively in Zhongzhu (TE 3) group, and bilateral occipital lobes, cerebellum, frontal lobes and temporal lobes in Yanglingquan (GB 34) group in contrast. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture-stimulating both Zhongzhu (TE 3) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) can excite bilateral acoustic, visual and somatomotor cortices, which might be the central neural basis for clinical treatment on related diseases.