ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effect of paeoniflorin(PF)on TLR2/4 pathway in AGEs-induced RAW264.7 macrophages.Methods RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated at different time points in AGEs stimulation,as well as different concentrations of PF,to optimize experimental conditions.RAW264.7 macrophages were randomly divided into five groups: control group(DMEM),bull serum albumin(BSA)group(200 mg·L-1 BSA),AGEs group(200 mg·L-1 AGEs),paeoniflorin group(200 mg·L-1 AGEs+10-5 mol·L-1 PF)and TLR2/4 inhibitor group(200 mg·L-1 AGEs+30 mg·L-1 OxPAPC).The expression of Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2),Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88),p-IRAK1,TIR-domain containing adaptor protein-inducing IFN-β(TRIF),interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3),p-IRF3,NF-κB p-p65,NF-κB p65,inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-l β(IL-1β)and monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1)were measured by Western blot.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA,while TNF-α,IL-1β and MCP-1 levels in cell supernatant were measured by ELISA.Results Compared with control group,AGEs significantly increased the expression of TLR2,TLR4,MyD88,p-IRAK1,TRIF,IRF3,p-IRF3,NF-κB p-p65,NF-κB p65,iNOS,TNF-α,IL-1β and MCP-1 proteins(P<0.01),as well as TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA(P<0.01).TNF-α,IL-1β and MCP-1 contents were also elevated in cell supernatant(P<0.01).The effects induced by AGEs were decreased significantly in PF and TLR2/4 inhibitor group(P<0.01).Conclusion PF plays an anti-inflammatory effect via inhibiting TLR2/4 pathway on macrophages,which may provide a new theoretical basis for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
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Objective To investigate the value of low-dose coronary artery imaging with flash dual-energy CT.Methods In total of 240 patients suspected with coronary heart disease were performed dual-energy CCTA(DE-CCTA)and were divided into four groups according to the A tube electric current and the methods of reconstruction,including group A(conventional group:180 mAs+FBP)and low-dose groups(including group B,C,D:1 50 mAs,120 mAs,90 mAs +SAFIRE,respectively).The mean of CT value, image noise,SNR,CNR,image quality and radiation dosage were compared among the four groups.Among the patients,52 cases with coronary artery stenosis which were diagnosised by DE-CCTA were also confirmed by CAG,and the consistency of these two methods in the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis were compared.Results The scores of all image quality were more than 3 points and were statistically significant among the four groups(P 0.05), while the image noise,SNR,CNR and the radiation dosage were statistically significant (P <0.05)among the four groups.The ED of group D was lower 55.62% than group A.DE-CCTA and CAG in the diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis had satisfactory consistency (Kappa=0.84,P<0.05).Conclusion Low-dose coronary artery DE-CCTA not only have none affect of image quality and diagnostic accuracy, but also can significantly reduce the radiation dosage.
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Purpose To investigate the clinical application of iodine concentration using dual-energy contrast enhanced CT in distinguishing malignant from benign thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods Patients with a total of 90 pathology proven thyroid nodules (60 malignant, 30 benign) underwent dual-energy contrast enhanced CT scanning. The iodine concentration and CT value were measured in arterial phase and venous phase, then the normalized iodine concentration (NICnod) and the normalized CT value were calculated. All results were compared in each groups, while morphology and capsule of these nodules on iodine image were analyzed. Results The morphology and capsule of nodules on iodine image were significantly different between benign and malignant nodules (Z=- 4.55, P<0.05). On iodine image, the sensitivity of partial capsule diagnosing malignant nodules was 78.33% with specificity of 66.67%. The NICnod and normalized CT value for normal group, benign group and malignant group showed significant differences in arterial phase and venous phase (F=36.87-69.89, P<0.05); the NICnod and normalized CT value between benign group and malignant group showed statistic difference in arterial phase (Z=- 3.48- -2.33, P<0.05), and those among normal group, benign group and malignant group also showed statistic differences (Z= -7.01- - 4.87, P<0.05). NICnod had significant correlation with normalized CT value in each phases (r=0.89, 0.74 and 0.75, P<0.05). When using NICnod and normalized CT value of 0.76 and 0.79 to differentiate malignant thyroid nodules, the area under ROC curve values were 0.91 and 0.92. NIC and normalized CT value showed a good consistency with iodine map in venous phase (Kappa=0.762 and 0.768), Combining morphology and capsule of nodules on iodine image, the sensitivity was 90.01% and the specificity was 93.60%. Conclusion Iodine concentration with dual-energy contrast enhanced CT scanning can differentiate malignant from benign thyroid nodules; combining morphology and capsule of nodules improves the accuracy of diagnosis.