ABSTRACT
@#Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor family contains Pryrin domain protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome, which is an intracellular protein complex. Large release of ROS can activate the production of intracellular NLRP3 inflammasome. It consists of NLRP3, a cysteine protease recruitment domain(ASC),and a pro-caspase-1 precursor, can activate caspase-1 while being assembled. Then, the cytokines interleukin-1 and interleukin-18(pro-Il-1/18)are cleaved into mature forms by caspase-1 to perform their pro-inflammatory functions. pyroptosis refers to the programmed cell death of Caspase-1-dependent cells mediated by inflammasome. This article reviews the structure and function of NLRP3 inflammasome, its relationship with pyroptosis, and the research progress in ophthalmic diseases.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>CT perfusion imaging (CTP) has been proved to be a powerful functional imaging technique. This study aimed to evaluate the value of CTP in guiding biopsy of pulmonary lumps.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 147 patients with pulmonary lumps who had CT guided biopsies were enrolled in this study from February 2005 to June 2007. The patients were assigned to 3 groups: 33 cases guided by CTP as group I, 45 cases guided by contrast-enhanced scan of CT as group II, and 69 cases guided by plain scan of CT as group III. Each group was subdivided into central and peripheral types according to the location of the lumps. The achievement ratio of biopsy, the accuracy in grouping, and grading of lung cancer, and the incidence of complication were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total achievement ratios of biopsy from group I to III were 100% (33/33), 91% (41/45), and 80% (55/69) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.05). For the central type, they were 100% (18/18), 88% (15/17), and 79% (11/14) respectively, and the difference was also statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.05). For the peripheral type, they were 100% (15/15), 93% (26/28), and 80% (44/55) respectivelies, and the difference was not statistically significant among the three groups. The total accuracies in grouping and grading of lung cancer from group I to III were 100% (27/27), 91% (31/34), and 72% (33/46) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III and between group II and III (P < 0.05). For the central type, they were 100% (16/16), 94% (16/17), and 70% (8/12) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.05). For the peripheral type, they were 100% (11/11), 88% (15/17), and 72% (26/36) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.05). The total incidence of complication from group I to III were 15% (5/33), 27% (12/45), and 43% (30/69) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.01). For the central type, they were 11% (2/18), 24% (4/17), and 57% (8/14) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant between group I and III (P < 0.01). For the peripheral type, they were 20% (3/15), 29% (8/28), and 40% (22/55) respectively, and no statistically significant difference was found among the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CTP guided biopsy of pulmonary lumps using multi-detector row CT has the potential to improve the accuracy of histopathological diagnosis with a lower risk and higher achievement ratio. More research and technical improvements are needed before it is widely used.</p>