Research trends and hotspots in the field of electrical impedance tomography for mechanical ventilation: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a relatively recent functional imaging technique that is both noninvasive and radiation free. EIT measures the associated voltage when a weak current is applied to the surface of the human body to determine the distribution of electrical resistance within tissues. We performed a bibliometrics-based review to explore the geographic hotspots of current research and future trends developing in the field of EIT for mechanical ventilation. Methods: The Web of Science database was searched from its inception to June 25, 2023. CiteSpace software was used to visualize and analyze the relevant literature and identify the most impactful literature, trends, and hotspots. Results: 363 articles describing EIT use in mechanical ventilation were identified. A fluctuating growth in the number of publications was observed from 1998 to 2023. Germany had the highest number of articles (n=154), followed by Italy (n=53) and China (n=52). A cluster analysis of keyword co-occurrence revealed that "titration", "ventilator-related lung injury", and "oxygenation" were the most actively researched terms associated with the use of EIT in mechanically ventilated patients. Conclusions: Significant progress has been made in EIT research for mechanical ventilation. EIT research is limited to a small number of countries with a present research focus on the prevention and treatment of ventilator-related lung injury, oxygenation status, and prone ventilation. These topics are expected to remain research hotspots in the future.

Overexpression of RYBP inhibits proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance to cisplatin in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells via the EGFR pathway.

Ring1 and YY1 binding protein (RYBP), a new member of the polycomb group protein family, has been reported to play an important role in various biological processes. Recently, more and more studies have demonstrated an implication of RYBP in cancer development. However, the specific role of RYBP in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) remains unknown. In this study, we investigated for the first time the expression pattern and biological functions of RYBP in ATC. We showed that RYBP was lowly expressed in ATC tissues and cell lines. We also found that overexpression of RYBP inhibited ATC cell proliferation, invasion, and cisplatin resistance. Furthermore, we observed that upregulation of RYBP decreased the phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK1/2 in ATC cells. Taken together, our data indicated that RYBP might be considered as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ATC.

TGF-ß1/Smad3 Signaling Pathway Mediates T-2 Toxin-Induced Decrease of Type II Collagen in Cultured Rat Chondrocytes.

T-2 toxin can cause damage to the articular cartilage, but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. By employing the culture of rat chondrocytes, we investigated the effect of the TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling pathway on the damage to chondrocytes induced by T-2 toxin. It was found that T-2 toxin could reduce cell viability and increased the number of apoptotic cells when compared with the control group. After the addition of the T-2 toxin, the production of type II collagen was reduced at mRNA and protein levels, while the levels of TGF-ß1, Smad3, ALK5, and MMP13 were upregulated. The production of the P-Smad3 protein was also increased. Inhibitors of TGF-ß1 and Smad3 were able to reverse the effect of the T-2 toxin on the protein level of above-mentioned signaling molecules. The T-2 toxin could promote the level of MMP13 via the stimulation of TGF-ß1 signaling in chondrocytes, resulting in the downregulation of type II collagen and chondrocyte damage. Smad3 may be involved in the degradation of type II collagen, but the Smad3 has no connection with the regulation of MMP13 level. This study provides a new clue to elucidate the mechanism of T-2 toxin-induced chondrocyte damage.

Targeting RPTPσ with lentiviral shRNA promotes neurites outgrowth of cortical neurons and improves functional recovery in a rat spinal cord contusion model.

After spinal cord injury (SCI), the rapidly upregulated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), the prominent chemical constituents and main repulsive factors of the glial scar, play an important role in the extremely limited ability to regenerate in adult mammals. Although many methods to overcome the inhibition have been tested, no successful method with clinical feasibility has been devised to date. It was recently discovered that receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (RPTPσ) is a functional receptor for CSPGs-mediated inhibition. In view of the potential clinical application of RNA interference (RNAi), here we investigated whether silencing RPTPσ via lentivirus-mediated RNA interference can promote axon regeneration and functional recovery after SCI. Neurites of primary rat cerebral cortical neurons with depleted RPTPσ exhibited a significant enhancement in elongation and crossing ability when they encountered CSPGs in vitro. A contusion model of spinal cord injury in Wistar rats (the New York University (NYU) impactor) was used for in vivo experiments. Local injection of lentivirus encoding RPTPσ shRNA at the lesion site promoted axon regeneration and synapse formation, but did not affect the scar formation. Meanwhile, in vivo functional recovery (motor and sensory) was also enhanced after RPTPσ depletion. Therefore, strategies directed at silencing RPTPσ by RNAi may prove to be a beneficial, efficient and valuable approach for the treatment of SCI.

[The efficacy analysis of selective decompression of lumbar root canal of elderly lumbar spinal stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the treatments of lumbar spinal stenosis by selective decompression of lumbar root canal and laminectomy. METHODS: From March 2007 to March 2011, 144 lumbar spinal stenosis patients were treated by selective decompression of lumbosacral root canal and laminectomy. All of these patients included 64 male and 80 female patients, age range 60-87 years, average (66 ± 5) years. Duration 6-72 months, average (12 ± 16) months. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to surgical procedure underwent: group A including 70 patients who were treated with selective decompression of lumbar root canal, group B including 74 patients who were treated with traditional laminectomy. Five time points were selected to assess clinical effect using Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), which were pre-operation and 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and last follow-up. The data were analyzed through Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. RESULTS: All operations were completed well without severe complications. The duration of follow-up was 12-55 months, average (31 ± 6) months. All patients' symptoms got improved or partial remission. The average pre- and post-operative scores of JOA in group A and B were from 14.0 ± 1.6 to 20.3 ± 1.7, from 13.6 ± 1.7 to 20.2 ± 2.0, respectively, there were significant statistical differences (Z = 2.41 and 2.23, P < 0.05). The average pre- and post-operative scores of ODI in group A and B were from 62% ± 4% to 28% ± 4%, from 63% ± 4% to 27% ± 3%, respectively, there were significant statistical differences (Z = 2.93 and 2.64, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Personalized treatment programs should be established for elderly lumbar spinal stenosis according to stenosis location. Laminectomy is carried out with the stenosis in the central spinal canal; selective decompression of lumbosacral root canal is accepted with the stenosis in the nerve root canal without central stenosis.

Immunomodulatory effects of secondary metabolites from thermophilic Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis XA-1 on carp, Cyprinus carpio.

A bacterial strain with putative immunomodulatory properties was isolated from Xi'an hot springs in China. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene revealed a 97% similarity between the tested strain (designated XA-1) and Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis. Two compounds isolated from the secondary metabolites of XA-1 were identified by spectral data (infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry) as: (1) cyclo (Gly-L-Pro) and (2) cyclo (L-Ala-4-hydroxyl-L-Pro). Two cyclic dipeptides showed stimulatory properties towards a range of parameters when a dose of 20mg kg(-1) body weight was intraperitoneally injected in naive common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Innate immune parameters (serum SOD, lysozyme and bactericidal activity, and phagocytic activity by peripheral blood leucocytes) along with the expression of two immune-related genes (IL-1ß and iNOS) in blood were examined after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of injection. In the absence of infection, immunomodulators should ideally not affect normal physiology and immunity of the host; possible negative outcomes of activated immune responses in the naive state are discussed. Protection by two bacterial dipeptides was assessed in an intraperitoneal injection challenge trial with live Aeromonas hydrophila. Both compounds reduced mortality, with the highest survival rate observed in the group that received compound 2 (80%) followed by the group that received compound 1 (65%) while control group scored the worse (15%). Elucidation of the involved protective mechanisms in carp requires future studies.

In vivo anthelmintic activity of bruceine A and bruceine D from Brucea javanica against Dactylogyrus intermedius (Monogenea) in goldfish (Carassius auratus).

The present study was designated to ascertain the anthelmintic activity of the dried fruits of Brucea javanica and to isolate and characterise the active constituents. The methanol extract from the fruits of B. javanica showed significant anthelmintic activity against Dactylogyrus intermedius (EC(50) (median effective concentration) value=49.96 mg l(-1)). Based on this finding, the methanol extract was fractionated on silica gel column chromatography in a bioassay-guided fractionation affording two known quassinoids showing potent activity, bruceine A and bruceine D. Both bruceine A and D exhibited significant activity against D. intermedius with EC(50) values of 0.49 mg l(-1) and 0.57 mg l(-1), respectively, which were more effective than the positive control, mebendazole (EC(50) value=1.25 mg l(-1)). In addition, the 48-h median lethal concentration (LC(50)) for bruceine A and D against the host (Carassius auratus) was 10.6-fold and 9.7-fold higher than the EC(50) for D. intermedius. These results provide evidence that the isolated compounds might be potential sources of new anti-parasitic drugs for the control of Dactylogyrus. This is the first report on an in vivo anthelmintic investigation for B. javanica against D. intermedius.

Immunostimulatory activities of Bacillus simplex DR-834 to carp (Cyprinus carpio).

A bacterial strain, designated DR-834 and producing immunostimulatory activities to carp (Cyprinus carpio), was isolated from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau permafrost soil. Cultural characteristic studies suggested that this strain belongs to the genus Bacillus. The nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of strain DR-834 exhibited close similarity (99%) with the 16S rRNA gene of Bacillus simplex. Two compounds showing potent activity were isolated from secondary metabolites of the strain through bioassay-guided isolation techniques and identified by spectral data (infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry) as: (1) 4-trans-hydroxy-l-proline and (2) cyclo-(l-Pro-Gly)(2). They were found to be significantly increased the selected innate immune function parameters, serum SOD activity, serum lysozyme activity, serum bactericidal activity, superoxide anion production and phagocytic activity by isolated blood leucocytes. The effects of two compounds on immune-related genes expression were further investigated. The outcomes of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) proved that the transcribing level of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the blood have been augmented by 4-trans-hydroxy-l-proline and cyclo-(l-Pro-Gly)(2). Compounds 1 and 2 administration the challenge with live Aeromonas hydrophila decreased the percentage mortality in the experimental groups with the consequence increase in relative percent survival (RPS) values. Compound 2 produced the highest protection with the RPS values of 87.50, 77.78, 55.56 and 55.56 after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, respectively. The study indicates that the isolated compounds could be positively influence the immune response and protect the heath status of carp against A. hydrophila infection.

Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of active compounds from Fructus Arctii against Dactylogyrus intermedius (Monogenea) in goldfish (Carassius auratus).

Dactylogyrus intermedius is a significant monogenean parasite on the gills of cyprinid fishes and can cause serious problem in fish aquaculture. In the present study, bioassay-guided fractionation was employed to identify the active compounds from Fructus Arctii against D. intermedius. Five solvents (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water) were applied for the extraction of Fructus Arctii. Among them, only the chloroform extract exhibited promising anthelmintic efficacy and therefore, subjected to the further isolation and purification using various chromatographic techniques. Two compounds showing potent activity were obtained and identified by spectral data (infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry) as: arctigenin (1) and arctiin (2). They were found to be significantly effective against D. intermedius with median effective concentration (EC(50)) values of 0.62 and 3.55 mg L(-1), respectively. Arctigenin exhibited higher activity as compared with the positive control mebendazole with an EC(50) value of 1.25 mg L(-1). The 48-h acute toxicity tests (LC(50)) of arctigenin and arctiin were found to be 8.47 and 14.14 mg L(-1) for goldfish, respectively. These results provided evidence that the studied plant extract, as well as the isolated compounds, might be potential sources of new antiparasitic drug for the control of Dactylogyrus.