Measuring healthy female nulliparous pubovisceral muscle from diffusion kurtosis imaging

This study explores the feasibility of using diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in the pelvic floor region and assesses the water diffusivity of the pubovisceral muscle. Twenty-seven healthy young nulliparous females underwent DKI at 3.0 T that included 15 gradient directions and three b values (0, 750, and 1500 s/mm²). The diffusion tensor and diffusion kurtosis metrics values of the pubovisceral muscle were measured after image processing. Two independent sample t-tests, a paired-samples t-test, and a nonparametric hypothesis test were performed as appropriate to compare the differences among different metrics. Twenty-six subjects (mean ± standard deviation age, 25 ± 2 years) were successfully analyzed by measuring the diffusion tensor and diffusion kurtosis metrics of the bilateral pubovisceral muscles. The metrics included mean kurtosis, axial kurtosis, radial kurtosis, fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity. We found no statistically significant differences for these measurement values between the left and right pubovisceral muscles (p = 0.271–0.931). However, radial kurtosis was greater than axial kurtosis in both pubovisceral muscles (p < 0.001) and axial diffusivity was lower than radial diffusivity in both pubovisceral muscles (p < 0.001). We deem the application of DKI technology to the pelvic floor region to be feasible.     

Cyanidin-3-glucoside protects against high glucose-induced injury in human nucleus pulposus cells by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling

Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) is a well-known natural anthocyanin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we explored the role and action mechanism of C3G in high glucose (HG)-induced damage of human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs). Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay. TUNEL assay was performed for detecting apoptotic rate. Western blot was performed to determine the expression levels of cl-caspase-3, caspase-3, Bax, Bim, collagen II, aggrecan, MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS5. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was analyzed using DCFH-DA staining. The Nrf2 was knocked down or overexpressed in HNPCs through transfection with si-Nrf2 or pcDNA3.0-Nrf2. C3G treatment (12.5, 25, and 50 μM) improved cell viability of HNPCs under HG condition. HG-induced cell apoptosis of HNPCs was attenuated by C3G with decreased apoptotic rate and relative levels of cl-caspase-3/caspase-3, Bax, and Bim. C3G treatment caused significant increase in expression levels of collagen II and aggrecan and decrease in the relative levels of MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS5. After treatment with C3G, ROS generation in HNPCs was markedly reduced. Treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reversed HG-induced cell apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. C3G treatment induced the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in HG-induced HNPCs. Moreover, knockdown of Nrf2 reversed the inhibitory effect of C3G on ROS production. Summarily, C3G exerted a protective effect on ROS-mediated cellular damage in HNPCs under HG condition, which was attributed to the induction of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.     

左、右半结肠癌肝转移患者射频消融治疗疗效及生存的对比分析

目的:探讨原发部位分别位于左、右半结肠的结肠癌肝转移患者行超声引导下肝转移瘤射频消融术后的生存差异及预后影响因素分析。方法:回顾性分析2010年1月至2015年12月于我科行射频消融治疗的结肠癌肝转移患者100例，其中左半结肠癌62例，右半结肠癌38例，分析原发部位不同的结肠癌肝转移患者在进行超声引导下射频消融治疗后的生存情况。结果:左半结肠癌肝转移患者射频消融术后1、3、5年总体生存率及中位生存期均高于右半结肠癌肝转移患者（88.71% vs 73.68%、62.90% vs 30.02%、49.72% vs 26.33%、55个月 vs 23个月），且二者生存曲线差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。经Log-rank检验及COX多因素分析，左、右半结肠癌肝转移患者射频消融治疗术后的生存情况存在差异。此外，原发灶淋巴结转移情况、患者术前CA199水平及原发灶分化程度是患者射频消融治疗术后生存情况的影响因素。结论:左半结肠癌肝转移患者射频消融术后整体生存率明显高于右半结肠癌肝转移患者，左半结肠癌与右半结肠癌肝转移患者在射频消融治疗术后生存状况存在明显差异。     

长链非编码RNA AFAP1-AS1在实体肿瘤中的作用与分子机制

长链非编码RNA（LncRNA）是一种长度超过200个核苷酸的内源RNA。大量研究表明，LncRNA可参与多种生物过程，如转录激活和干扰、细胞分化、增殖、迁移、侵袭和凋亡。近年来许多研究表明LncRNA在人类癌症中作为致癌基因或肿瘤抑制基因发挥着重要作用。大量新研究表明LncRNA肌动蛋白丝相关蛋白1反义RNA1（AFAP1-AS1）参与了多种恶性肿瘤的发生发展。已证实AFAP1-AS1的失调表达与肿瘤发生和肿瘤进展相关；AFAP1-AS1可能成为肿瘤诊断和肿瘤治疗靶点的新型潜在分子生物标志物。在本篇综述中，我们总结了现阶段关于AFAP1-AS1在人类肿瘤发生和发展过程中的生物学功能和分子机制的研究问题。     

Research progress on magnetic resonance imaging-guided proton therapy for tumors

With the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided photon therapy, the concept of combining real-time MRI guidance with proton therapy, namely, MRI-guided proton therapy (MRPT), has attracted widespread attention. It is expected that MRPT canmitigate the uncertaintiesduring the treatment of proton therapy to make full use of the physical advantages of protons. However, multiple electromagnetic interactions between proton therapy and MRI-guided systems may lead to mutual interference between the two systems. This article review the research progress on the MRPT system, aiming to provide certain reference for the design of MRPT system.     

基于ML-kNN多标记学习的中医体质辨识模型研究

目的 中医体质与人体健康状态密切相关。研究利用人工智能技术辨识中医体质，为中医体质辨识智能化及自动化发展提供新思路。方法 以江苏省中医院体检中心的中医体质数据作为初始数据样本，经过数据清洗、过滤及结构化最终纳入9844条数据作为研究对象，运用ML-kNN多标记k近邻算法构建中医体质辨识模型，使用10折交叉验证训练模型，并采用多标记学习评价指标评估模型效果。结果 中医体质辨识模型的平均汉明损失为0.096 1，平均1-错误率为0.126 1，平均排序损失为0.086 6，平均覆盖率为1.153 5，平均精度为88.57%。结论 基于体检中心中医体质辨识量表数据，利用ML-kNN多标记学习算法，构建体质辨识模型，能够有效实现中医体质辨识智能化。     

益气逐瘀方对缺氧诱导乳鼠心肌细胞凋亡及miR-24/Bim通路的影响

目的研究益气逐瘀方(参元丹)对缺氧诱导乳鼠心肌细胞凋亡及miR-24/Bim通路的影响。方法分离并培养乳鼠心肌细胞,建立心肌细胞缺氧模型,Lipofectamine2000转染miR-24 mimic/inhibitor至心肌细胞,实验分为正常组、缺氧组、参元丹组、参元丹+miR-24 mimic组、参元丹+miR-24 inhibitor组,治疗组予参元丹含药血清干预。比色法检测心肌细胞培养基上清液LDH、CPK活性,MTT法检测心肌细胞存活率,Annexin V/PI双染流式细胞术检测心肌细胞凋亡,qRT-PCR检测心肌细胞miR-24、Bim mRNA表达。结果与低氧组相比,参元丹组、参元丹+miR-24 mimic组、参元丹+miR-24 inhibitor组均能显著降低细胞培养基上清液LDH、CPK活性(P<0.05),提高心肌细胞存活率(P<0.05),降低心肌细胞凋亡(P<0.05),升高心肌细胞miR-24 mRNA表达(P<0.05),降低Bim mRNA表达(P<0.05);治疗组之间比较,参元丹+miR-24 mimic组作用更显著(P<0.05)。结论益气逐瘀方参元丹能够减轻缺氧诱导乳鼠心肌细胞损伤及细胞凋亡,其作用机制可能与其上调miR-24表达,同时抑制其靶基因Bim mRNA表达有关。     

Qingjie Fuzheng Granules regulates cancer cell proliferation,apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis in colorectal cancer xenograft mice via Sonic Hedgehog pathway

BackgroundSonic Hedgehog (SHh) signaling pathway plays a critical role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor angiogenesis in various types of malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). Qingjie Fuzheng Granules (QFG) is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, which has been clinically used in various cancer treatments, including CRC. In this study, we explored the potential molecular mechanisms of QFG treatment effects on CRC via the SHh pathway.MethodsA CRC HCT-116 xenograft mouse model was utilized for all experiments. Mice were treated with intra-gastric administration of 1 g/kg of QFG or saline 6 days a week for 28 days (4 weeks). Body weight, length and shortest diameter of the tumor were measured every 3 days. At the end of the treatment, the tumor weight was measured. TUNEL staining assays were used to detect tumor apoptosis. Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays were used to detect the expression of relative proteins.ResultsIn our results, QFG inhibited the increase of tumor volume and weight, and exhibited no impact on mouse body weight. Furthermore, QFG significantly decreased the expression of SHh, Smo and Gli proteins, indicating the action of SHh signaling. Consequently, the expression of pro-proliferative survivin, Ki-67, Cyclin-D1 and CDK4 were decreased and expression of anti-proliferative p21 was increased. The pro-apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cle-caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cell percentage in tumor tissues were increased. Meanwhile, the pro-angiogenic VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 expression was down-regulated.ConclusionsQFG inhibited CRC cell proliferation and promoted CRC cell apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis in vivo through the suppression of SHh pathway, suggesting that QFG could be a potential therapeutic drug for CRC.