Quantification of myocardial fibrosis using noninvasive T2-mapping magnetic resonance imaging: Preclinical models of aging and pressure overload

Noninvasive imaging of cardiac fibrosis is important for early diagnosis and intervention in chronic heart diseases. Here, we investigated whether noninvasive, contrast agent-free MRI T₂-mapping can quantify myocardial fibrosis in preclinical models of aging and pressure overload. Myocardial fibrosis and remodeling were analyzed in two animal models: (i) aging (15-month-old male CF-1 mice vs. young 6- to 8-week-old mice), and (ii) pressure overload (PO; by transverse aortic constriction in 4- to 5-month-old male C57BL/6 mice vs. sham-operated for 14 days). In vivo T₂-mapping was performed by acquiring data during the isovolumic and early diastolic phases, with a modified respiratory and ECG-triggered multiecho TurboRARE sequence on a 7-T MRI. Cine MRI provided cardiac morphology and function. A quantitative segmentation method was developed to analyze the in vivo T₂-maps of hearts at midventricle, apex, and basal regions. The cardiac fibrosis area was analyzed ex vivo by picro sirius red (PSR) staining. Both aged and pressure-overloaded hearts developed significant myocardial contractile dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. The aged mice had two phenotypes, fibrotic and mild-fibrotic. Notably, the aged fibrotic subgroup and the PO mice showed a marked decrease in T₂ relaxation times (25.3 ± 0.6 in aged vs. 29.9 ± 0.7 ms in young mice, p = 0.002; and 24.3 ± 1.7 in PO vs. 28.7 ± 0.7 ms in shams, p = 0.05). However, no significant difference in T₂ was detected between the aged mild-fibrotic subgroup and the young mice. Accordingly, an inverse correlation between myocardial fibrosis percentage (FP) and T₂ relaxation time was derived (R² = 0.98): T₂ (ms) = 30.45 – 1.05 × FP. Thus, these results demonstrate a statistical agreement between T₂-map–quantified fibrosis and PSR staining in two different clinically relevant animal models. In conclusion, T₂-mapping MRI is a promising noninvasive contrast agent-free quantitative technique to characterize myocardial fibrosis.     

Effect of compression stockings on overnight rostral fluid shift and obstructive sleep apnea: A meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe overnight rostral fluid shift from the lower limbs is one of the causes of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Compression stockings (CS) prevent lower limb fluid retention and have been reported to decrease nighttime fluid shift. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of CS on fluid shift and the severity of OSA.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. The data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 3; Biostat, Englewood, NJ). Studies evaluating the effect of CS on the overnight fluid shift and OSA severity were included in the analysis.ResultsA total of 4 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis showed that the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of the overall study group was significantly lower after using CS (SMD, -1.08; 95% CI, -1.49 to -0.67). Decreases in the AHI were also observed in the normal fluid status (SMD, -1.05; 95% CI, -1.73 to -0.37) and fluid overload status (SMD, -1.17; 95% CI, -1.76 to -0.58) populations. The overall study group had significant decreases in overnight changes in neck circumference (SMD, -1.05; 95% CI, -2.06 to -0.03) and leg fluid volume (SMD, -1.14; 95% CI, -1.88 to -0.41) after using CS. However, no significant differences in overnight changes in neck circumference and leg fluid volume were observed in normal fluid status patients.ConclusionCS may help decrease overnight fluid shift and could be a treatment option for OSA.     

沙盘游戏疗法在肿瘤放疗患者中的应用

目的探讨沙盘游戏疗法对肿瘤放疗患者心理痛苦及生活质量的作用。方法采用便利抽样法,选取2019年1—12月于上海市质子重离子医院住院进行放疗的49例肿瘤患者为研究对象,采用分层随机分组方法,将患者随机分为对照组28例和试验组21例。对照组给予常规心理护理,试验组在此基础上给予沙盘游戏疗法。采用心理痛苦温度计和欧洲癌症研究与治疗组织生命质量核心量表中的5个功能维度比较两组患者干预前后的心理痛苦程度和生活质量水平。结果干预后,两组患者心理痛苦温度计得分均低于干预前,且试验组得分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。干预前后试验组患者的躯体功能、角色功能、认知功能、情绪功能、社会功能维度得分下降程度均小于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论沙盘游戏疗法对肿瘤放疗患者的心理痛苦和生活质量有一定改善作用。     

A comparison of efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies for severe mycoplasma pneumonia in children: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:In recent years, the incidence rate of children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP) is increasing, which poses a great threat to children''s life and safety. There are some limitations in the existing drugs for the treatment of SMPP, and the supplementary and alternative therapy of SMPP plays an irreplaceable role in the treatment of this disease. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of various complementary and alternative therapies for SMPP by means of mesh meta-analysis. In order to provide the basis for clinical rational use.Methods:Two researchers will independently and comprehensively searched the Cochrane Central controlled trials registry, Cochrane Library, PubMed, web of science, EMBASE, CNKI, and Wanfang database to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) studies on complementary and alternative therapies for SMPP. And the relevant references included in the systematic review/meta-analysis are screened. The retrieval time limit is from the establishment of the database to November 2020. We will use Revman 5.3 software for meta-analysis and use grade to grade the quality of evidence in the net meta-analysis (NMA).Results:The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of different complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of SMPP, with a view to evaluating and ranking different interventions.Conclusion:The supplement and replacement therapy of SMPP can improve the clinical efficacy, relieve the clinical symptoms, improve the quality of life of children, and reduce adverse reactions, which can provide strong support for the rational use of clinicians.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY2020110079.     

骨质疏松症动物模型的构建及实验方法研究进展

骨质疏松症是一种全身性骨代谢病,由多种因素引起,其特点是骨量、骨密度和骨组织的显微结构恶化,骨脆性增强和易发生骨折。骨质疏松症已严重威胁人类健康,最终将导致患者日常活动减少,生活质量降低,死亡率增加。针对不同的研究对象,选择一个正确、理想的动物骨质疏松的模型和实验方法以尽可能再现人类骨质疏松的状态,是开展动物实验的关键。我们综述了当前原发性和继发性骨质疏松等动物模型的构建,以及利用这些模型进行给药实验的研究方法,并对研发治疗骨质疏松的新型药物的选择提供了一些参考建议,以期对后续关于药物的作用机制、研发新药、药物的改良等研究提供思路。     

Resiniferatoxin reduces cardiac sympathetic nerve activation to exert a cardioprotective effect during myocardial infarction

Background and objective: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common critical disease of the cardiovascular system. The process of MI is often accompanied by the excessive activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves, which leads to arrhythmia. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), involved in the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex. However, whether RTX can reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia and exert a cardioprotective effect by inhibiting the sympathetic reflex during MI is still unknown. Methods: The left anterior descending artery of cardiac was clamped to construct a model of MI. RTX (50 μg/ml) was used by epicardial application in MI rats. Ventricular electrophysiologic properties were continuously monitored by a body surface ECG. Yrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) were detected by Immunofluorescence staining. Connexin43 and transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-β1) were detected by western blot. Norepinephrine (NE) and BNP levels in blood and tissue were determined by ELISA. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Results: The ERP, APD90, QRS, QT and the Tend-Tpeak intervals in MI rats were all prolonged, but decreased after RTX treatment (n = 3, P<0.05). In contrast, the RR interval was shortened in the MI group, but prolonged in the MI+RTX group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX treatment significantly reduced ventricular arrhythmias after MI. TH- and GAP43-positive nerve densities and TGF-β1, and cx-43 protein expression were up-regulated in the MI group compared to the sham group, and they were decreased in the MI+RTX group compared to the MI group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX can decrease serum and tissue NE and BNP levels (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX pretreatment significantly decreased heart rate, HW/BW ratio and LVIDS, and increased LVEF andLVFS values (n = 3, P<0.05). Conclusion: RTX improved cardiac dysfunction, ventricular electrophysiologic properties, and sympathetic nerve remodeling in rats with MI by inhibiting the excessive cardiac sympathetic drive.     

Aging attenuates the ovarian circadian rhythm

ObjectiveTo study the effect of aging on ovarian circadian rhythm.DesignHuman and animal study.SettingUniversity hospital and research laboratory.Patients/animalsHuman granulosa cells were obtained by follicular aspiration from women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), and ovarian and liver tissues were obtained from female C57BL/6 mice.Intervention(s)None.Main outcome measure(s)Expression of circadian genes in young and older human granulosa cells and circadian rhythm in ovaries and livers of young and older mice.Result(s)All examined circadian clock genes in human granulosa cells showed a downward trend in expression with aging, and their mRNA expression levels were negatively correlated with age (P < 0.05). Older patients (≥ 40 years of age) had significantly reduced serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. Except for Rev-erbα, all other examined circadian clock genes were positively correlated with the level of AMH (P < 0.05). The circadian rhythm in the ovaries of older mice (8 months) was changed significantly relative to that in ovaries of young mice (12 weeks), although the circadian rhythm in the livers of older mice was basically consistent with that of young mice.Conclusion(s)Lower ovarian reserve in older women is partially due to ovarian circadian dysrhythmia as a result of aging.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s10815-020-01943-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

杜仲叶提取物所含四种主要成分体外抗非酒精性脂肪肝活性研究＊

目的 研究杜仲叶所含4种主要成分体外抗非酒精性脂肪肝（Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease，NAFLD）活性。方法 首先用UPLC-MS检测杜仲叶提取物中绿原酸、杜仲苷、京尼平苷酸、车叶草苷含量；以HepG2细胞为载体，建立NAFLD细胞模型，设正常组、模型组、绿原酸组、杜仲苷组、京尼平苷酸组、车叶草苷组；油红O染色检测细胞内脂质；微量法检测细胞内甘油三酯（Triglyceride，TG）、胆固醇（Total cholesterol，TC）、高密度脂蛋白（High-density lipoprotein cholesterol，HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白（Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol，LDL-C）含量；微量法检测细胞培养液中谷草转氨酶（Aspartate aminotransferase，AST）、谷丙转氨酶（Alanine aminotransferase，ALT）含量。结果 杜仲叶提取物主要含绿原酸、杜仲苷、京尼平苷酸和车叶草苷，其中京尼平苷酸的含量最高；杜仲叶提取物所含四种主要成分可明显降低细胞内TG、TC、LDL-C含量，其中京尼平苷酸效果最为显著；绿原酸、杜仲苷，京尼平苷酸可显著降低细胞培养液中AST、ALT含量，其中京尼平苷酸效果最好。结论 杜仲叶提取物所含四种主要成分可不同程度降低HepG2细胞内脂质含量，其中京尼平苷酸效果较好。     

脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤CT鉴别诊断

目的 运用CT区分脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤。方法 回顾性分析20例经手术、穿刺病理学检查证实的脾脏病变的发病年龄、性别、脾脏指数、病变大小、数目、有无液化、钙化、强化幅度、强化方式等特征,并进行统计学分析。结果 20例脾脏病变中,11例血管性病变(6例海绵状血管瘤,3例窦岸细胞血管瘤,2例硬化性血管瘤样结节性转化),9例淋巴瘤;两组间发病年龄、病变大小、数目、有无液化、钙化等差异无统计学意义;两组间脾脏指数、动脉期强化幅度差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。5例海绵状血管瘤呈不均匀性强化,1例呈渐进性填充式强化,2例窦岸细胞血管瘤呈“雀斑征”,1例硬化性血管瘤样结节性转化呈“辐轮征”;9例淋巴瘤实质部分均呈均匀、轻中度强化。结论 脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤CT表现不同,CT有助于明确诊断。