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Abstract Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic performance of single-source dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) based on gemstone spectral imaging technology (including Discovery CT750HD and Revolution CT) in patients with suspected feet/ankles gouty arthritis, and evaluate the urate deposition with a novel semi-quantitative DECT scoring system. Methods: A total of 196 patients were consecutively included. Feet and ankles were evaluated in all patients by single-source DECT scan. The 2015 EULAR/ACR criteria were used as the reference for the diagnosis of gout. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of DECT for the diagnosis of gout in the early (≤1 year), middle (1-3 years), and late (> 3 years) disease durations were calculated. Besides, a novel semi-quantitative DECT scoring system was assessed for the measurement of urate deposition, and the correlation between the scores and the clinical and serological data were also evaluated. Moreover, the influences of artifacts on the diagnostic performance of DECT were also determined. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of DECT in 196 patients were 38.10, 96.43%, and 0.673 in the early-stage group; 62.96, 100.00%, and 0.815 in the middle-stage group; and 77.55, 87.50%, and 0.825 in the late-stage group, respectively. The overall diagnostic accuracies in the AUC of DECT (Discovery CT750HD and Revolution CT) in the middle and late stages of gout were higher than that in the early stage of gout. Besides, the monosodium urate crystals were deposited on the first metatarsophalangeal joints and ankles/midfeet. Age, the presence of tophus, bone erosion, and disease duration considerably affected the total urate score. No statistical difference in the positive detection of nail artifact, skin artifact, vascular calcification, and noise artifact was found between the case and control groups. Conclusion: DECT (Discovery CT750HD and Revolution CT) showed promising diagnostic accuracy for the detection of urate crystal deposition in gout but had limited diagnostic sensitivity for short-stage gout. Longer disease duration, the presence of tophus, and bone erosion were associated with the urate crystal score system. The artifacts do not remarkably affect the diagnostic performance of DECT in gout.
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Objective@#To investigate the effect of Kamistad gel on oral ulcer healing and the expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) after oral administration in ulcer tissue of rats and to provide animal experimental data for the clinical application of Kamistad gel.@*Methods@#The oral ulcer rat model was established by chemical cauterization. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: Kamistad group (Kamistad gel), befuxin group (befuxin gel), lidocaine group (lidocaine cream), blank control group (normal saline), with 12 rats in each group. The ulcer area of the rats in each group was measured before and 1, 3 and 5 days after treatment; at 1 day after treatment, the duration of swabbing behavior within 3 minutes of intraoral capsaicin infusion was recorded to evaluate the degree of pain; the ulcer tissue was collected at 5 days after treatment, and the histopathological changes were observed by HE staining, the expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and EGF in the ulcer tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry and ELISA.@*Results@#At 1 day after treatment, the duration of mouth wiping induced by capsaicin was significantly shorter in the Kamistad group than in the blank control and befuxin groups (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the Kamistad and lidocaine groups (P >0.05). At 5 days after treatment, the ulcer area was significantly smaller in the Kamistad group than in the blank control and lidocaine groups (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the Kamistad and befuxin groups (P >0.05). At 5 days after treatment, H&E staining of the oral ulcer tissue sections showed significantly reduced levels of inflammatory cells and significantly proliferated fibroblasts and better epithelial hyperplasia in the Kamistad group compared with those in the lidocaine and blank control groups, and there were no differences between the Kamistad and befuxin groups. At 5 days after treatment, the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and EGF in the ulcer tissue of rats in each group were significantly different (P < 0.05). Compared with the blank control and lidocaine groups, the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 was significantly decreased and the expression of EGF was significantly increased in the Kamistad group (P < 0.05); there were no significant differences in the expression of the above three factors between the Kamistad and befuxin groups (P > 0.05).@*Conclusion@#Kamistad gel exhibited anti-inflammatory, analgesic and healing effects on experimental oral ulcers.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Stathmin as a critical protein involved in microtubule polymerization, is necessary for survival of cancer cells. However, extremely little is known about Stathmin in glioblastoma. So, this study was designed to elucidate the function of Stathmin gene in the tumorigenesis and progression of glioblastoma cells. METHOD: The lentiviral interference vector pLV3-si-Stathmin targeting Stathmin gene and the control vector pLV3-NC were established for the co-transfection of 293T cells together with the helper plasmids. Viral titer was determined via limiting dilution assay. Then pLV3-si-Stathmin and pLV3-NC were stably co-transfected into U373 and U87-MG glioblastoma cells. Expression levels of Stathmin protein in each group were determined by using Western Blot, and the proliferation and migration ability of the cells with downregulated Stathmin were evaluated through CCK8 assay and transwell invasion assay, respectively. Cell cycles and cell apoptosis were detected with flow cytometry. Finally, the effect of Stathmin in tumor formation was determined in nude mice. RESULT: DNA sequencing and viral titer assay indicated that the lentiviral interference vector was successfully established with a viral titer of 4 × 108 TU/ml. According to the results from Western Blotting, Stathmin protein expression level decreased significantly in the U373 and U87-MG cells after transfected with pLV3-si-Stathmin, respectively, compared with those transfected with pLV3-NC. In glioblastoma cells, the cell proliferation and migration were greatly inhibited after the downregulation of Stathmin protein. Flow cytometry showed that much more cells were arrested in G2/M phasein Stathmin downregulated group, compared with the non-transfection group and NC group. But Stathmin downregulation did not induce significant cell apoptosis. Tumor formation assay in nude mice showed that tumor formation was delayed after Stathmin downregulation, with a reduction in both tumor formation rate and tumor growth velocity. CONCLUSION: Stathmin downregulation affected the biological behaviors of U373 and U87-MG glioblastoma cells, inhibiting the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. Stathmin gene may serve as a potential target in gene therapy for glioblastoma.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Down-Regulation/genetics , Glioblastoma/metabolism , Cell Proliferation/genetics , Stathmin/genetics , Transfection , Glioblastoma/genetics , Glioblastoma/pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Stathmin/metabolism , Genetic VectorsABSTRACT
Objective@#To determine differences in pain, salivary components and taste between burning mouth syn⁃ drome (BMS) patients and the normal population and to study the effects of intramuscular injections of vitamin B1 (VitB1) and vitamin B12 (VitB12) on BMS. @*Methods@#Before treatment: We observed and compared differences in un⁃ stimulated salivary flow rate (USFR); stimulated salivary flow rate (SSFR); salivary amylase, cortisol, and secretory im⁃ munoglobulin A (SIgA) concentrations; and taste levels between BMS patients and normal controls. After treatment: The treatment group received an intramuscular injection of 100 mg VitB1 and 0.5 mg VitB12 in the buttocks once per day for 10 days. The above indexes were recorded before and after treatment and compared. A visual analog scale (VAS) score was used to assess the degree of pain relief in patients and as a clinical evaluation index. @*Results@#Before treat⁃ ment: SSFR, salivary amylase levels and bitter taste levels of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The concentration of SIgA was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), and the USFR and the cortisol concentration were not significant different from the those of the control group (P > 0.05). After treatment: The total effective rate of VitB1 and VitB12 on BMS was up to 70%. USFR was increased signifi⁃ cantly after treatment (P < 0.05), and the concentration of SIgA decreased (P < 0.05). There were no significant differ⁃ ences in the SSFR or the cortisol and salivary amylase concentrations (P > 0.05). Taste levels improved by varying de⁃ grees. @*Conclusions @#The abnormal decreases in SSFR, salivary amylase levels, and taste sensitivity and the abnormal increase in SIgA levels seen in BMS patients may be sensitive salivary indicators for the diagnosis of BMS. A VitB1 and VitB12 intramuscular injection is an effective treatment for patients with BMS, who showed pain relief. Changes in SIgA levels may be used as an indicator during follow⁃up and for the prognosis of BMS patients.
ABSTRACT
This study examined the potential antilithic effects of a traditional Chinese medicine Urtica dentata Hand (UDH) in experimental rats and screened the optimal extract of UDH as a possible therapeutic agent for kidney stones.The rat model of urinary calcium oxalate stones was induced by intragastric (i.g.) administration of 2 mL of 1.25％ ethylene glycol (EG) and 1％ ammonium chloride (AC) for 28 days and was confirmed by Color Doppler ultrasound imaging.The rats in different experimental groups were then intragastrically given petroleum ether extract (PEE),N-butanol extract (NBE),aqueous extract (AqE) of UDH,Jieshitong (positive control drug),and saline,respectively.Treatment with NBE significantly reduced the elevated levels of urinary calcium,uric acid,phosphate,as well as increased urinary output.Accordingly,the increased calcium,oxalate levels and the number of calcium oxalate crystals deposits were remarkably reverted in the renal tissue of NBE-treated rats.In addition,NBE also prevented the impairment of renal function to decrease the contents of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine.Taken together,these data suggest that NBE of UDH has a beneficial effect on calcium oxalate urinary stones in rats by flushing the stones out and protecting renal function.