Study on the Interaction between the Characteristics of Retinal Microangiopathy and Risk Factors for Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Objective: This study was designed to explore the characteristics of retinal microangiopathy in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and clarify its interaction with the risk factors for CSVD. Methods: Sixty patients with CSVD and 15 healthy individuals were enrolled. Demographic data, risk factors, and medical history were recorded, and magnetic resonance imaging was performed to detect and analyze the characteristics of retinal microangiopathy in the two groups. The interaction among retinal microangiopathy, vascular risk factors, and total imaging load of CSVD was compared. Results: (1) Hypertension, standard deviation of systolic blood pressure (SBPSD), standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG), and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were independent vascular risk factors for CSVD. (2) Statistically significant differences in hypertension, SBPSD, SDBG, and AIP were observed between the two groups in terms of the total imaging burden of CSVD (p < 0.05). (3) Multivariate logistic linear regression showed that CSVD was associated with a wider central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) (p = 0.015), a smaller arteriole-to-venule ratio (AVR) (p = 0.001), and a higher incidence of vessel tortuosity (p = 0.027). (4) When the total imaging burden of CSVD ranges from 0 to 4 points, the CRVE is larger, the AVR is smaller, and the incidence of vascular tortuosity is higher, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). (5) The characteristics of retinal microangiopathy were correlated with hypertension, SBPSD, SDBG, and AIP (p < 0.05). (6) An association was observed between the characteristics of retinal microangiopathy and vascular risk factors and the total imaging burden of CSVD (p < 0.05). Conclusions: (1) Hypertension, SBP variability, BG fluctuation, and AIP are independent vascular risk factors for CSVD. (2) Retinal microvessels are changed in patients with CSVD, and venous dilatation, decreased arteriovenous ratio, and vascular tortuosity are the main characteristics of the disease. (3) The characteristics of retinal microangiopathy are interactively correlated with the total imaging load and risk factors for CSVD and can be used as indicators of the severity of CSVD.

A narrative review of multimodal imaging of white matter lesions in type-2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the relevant studies about the structural and functional changes of the brain in patients with type-2 DM (T2DM) and white matter lesion (WML) in recent years, and to summarize them. BACKGROUND: T2DM is a common metabolic disease with increasing prevalence worldwide. This disease is closely related to central nervous system and vascular disease, and is considered a risk factor for white matter lesions in the brain. Compared to healthy individuals, WML patients with T2DM exhibit changes in brain perfusion, functional networks, nerve fiber structure, and brain tissue metabolism. METHODS: We analyzed recent studies related to structural and functional changes in the brain of patients suffering from T2DM and WML and summarized them. CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utilizes noninvasive and sensitive imaging techniques to provide multiparametric information in patients with T2DM to help in clinical practice. It features non-invasively and with high sensitivity assess the histomorphological and functional abnormalities of white matter in patients with T2DM using various parameters. We can use multimodal MRI methods to reflect the microscopic damage of neuromyelin structures and pathological changes of neuronal metabolic functions in WML in T2DM patients, and thus speculate the disease progression. This approach can be helpful for the early diagnosis and treatment of patients with such a disease who do not exhibit neurological deficit, to effectively improve their prognosis.

Effects of ultrasound on functional properties, structure and glycation properties of proteins: a review.

Protein is an indispensable part of life. It provides nutrition for human body and flavor for food. The role of protein depends largely on the functional properties of the protein. Therefore, the elucidation of protein structure and functional properties needs to be further explored. The effects of structural and functional properties of proteins under different ultrasonic treatment conditions were reviewed. The structural changes of protein were studied by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry combined with fluorescence spectrometry and proteomics, and the mechanism of action was determined. The glycation site, the glycation degree, and the glycation characteristics of different sugars were determined. The protein was modified by ultrasound, and the influence of protein structure, physicochemical properties, protein glycation characteristics, and the action mechanism were analyzed by biological mass spectrometry.

Study on physicochemical properties, digestive properties and application of acetylated starch in noodles.

The physicochemical and digestive properties of acetylated corn starch with different degrees of substitution were studied, which were prepared by microwave pretreatment and acetate esterification. Native corn starch-wheat noodles, acetylated corn starch-wheat flour noodles and native wheat noodles were prepared and their properties were compared. The results showed that the transparency, condensation volume ratio, hydrophilicity and lipophilicity of modified corn starch increased with increasing of substitution degree, which were 4.0% to 12.1%, 21.11% to 31.78%, 0.73 g/g to 0.91 g/g and 0.66 g/g to 0.88 g/g, respectively and the rate of water evolution decreased from 44.9% to 33.3%. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that acetyl group was successfully introduced. Scanning electron microscopy showed that microwave pretreatment and group introduction made the surface of starch granules locally porous and rough. Differential scanning calorimetry showed lower onset temperature, peak temperature, conclusion temperature and enthalpy than native corn starch, which proved that acetylated corn starch reduced the content of rapidly digestion starch and increased the content of slow digestible starch and resistant starch. At the same time, the results showed that the color, texture and tensile properties of noodles with acetylated corn starch were improved. It showed that acetylated corn starch prepared by microwave pretreatment and acetate esterification had certain application prospects.

Caffeic acid 3,4-dihydroxy-phenethyl ester suppresses receptor activator of NF-κB ligand­induced osteoclastogenesis and prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss through inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase/activator protein 1 and Ca2+­nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 signaling pathways.

Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) stimulation leads to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/AP-1 and Ca2+­nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) signaling pathways in osteoclastogenesis. Targeting these pathways has been an encouraging strategy for bone-related diseases, such as postmenopausal osteoporosis. In this study, we examined the effects of caffeic acid 3,4-dihydroxy-phenethyl ester (CADPE) on osteoclastogenesis. In mouse bone marrow monocytes (BMMs) and RAW264.7 cells, CADPE suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and actin-ring formation in a dose-dependent manner within non­growth inhibitory concentrations at the early stage, while CADPE had no effect on macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)-induced proliferation and differentiation. At the molecular level, CADPE inhibited RANKL-induced phosphorylation of MAPKs, including extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), without significantly affecting the NF-κB signaling pathway. CADPE abrogated RANKL-induced activator protein 1 (AP-1)/FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog (c-Fos) nuclear translocation and activation. Overexpression of c-Fos prevented the inhibition by CADPE of osteoclast differentiation. Furthermore, CADPE suppressed RANKL-induced the tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) interaction with c-src tyrosine kinase (c-Src), blocked RANKL-induced the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT), and inhibited RANKL-induced Ca2+ oscillation. As a result, CADPE decreased osteoclastogenesis-related marker gene expression, including NFATc1, TRAP, cathepsin K, and c-Src. To test the effects of CADPE on osteoclast activity in vivo, we showed that CADPE prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss by inhibiting osteoclast activity. Together, our data demonstrate that CADPE suppresses osteoclastogenesis and bone loss through inhibiting RANKL-induced MAPKs and Ca2+-NFATc1 signaling pathways. CADPE is a novel agent in the treatment of osteoclast-related diseases, such as osteoporosis.