The turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequence is widely used for musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging; however, its acquisition speed is limited and can be easily affected by motion artifacts. We aimed to evaluate ...whether the use of a simultaneous multi-slice TSE (SMS-TSE) sequence can accelerate MSK imaging while maintaining image quality when compared with the routine TSE sequence.
We prospectively enrolled 71 patients mean age, 37.43 ± 12.56 (range, 20-67) years, including 37 men and 34 women, to undergo TSE and SMS sequences. The total scanning times for the wrist, ankle and knee joint with routine sequence were 14.92, 13.97, and 13.48 min, respectively. For the SMS-TSE sequence, they were 7.52, 7.20, and 6.87 min. Quantitative parameters, including the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), were measured. Three experienced MSK imaging radiologists qualitatively evaluated the image quality of bone texture, cartilage, tendons, ligament, meniscus, and artifact using a 5-point evaluation system, and the diagnostic performance of the SMS-TSE sequences was evaluated.
Compared with the routine TSE sequences, the scanning time was lower by 49.60, 48.46, and 49.04% using SMS-TSE sequences for the wrist, ankle, and knee joints, respectively. For the SNR comparison, the SMS-TSE sequences were significantly higher than the routine TSE sequence for wrist (except for Axial-T2WI-FS), ankle, and knee joint MR imaging (
< 0.05), but no statistical significance was obtained for the CNR measurement (
> 0.05, except for Sag-PDWI-FS in ankle joint). For the wrist joint, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 88.24, 100, and 92%. For the ankle joint, they were 100, 75, and 93.33%. For the knee joint, they were 87.50, 85.71, and 87.10%.
The use of the SMS-TSE sequence in the wrist, ankle, and knee joints can significantly reduce the scanning time and show similar image quality when compared with the routine TSE sequence.
To explore the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping combined with susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in detecting early cartilage damage and joint bleeding in the hemophilic ...arthropathy (HA).
147 patients and 56 healthy controls were prospectively recruited. The knees were divided into groups A and B according to the criteria of the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS). The Regions of Interest (ROIs) of T2 mapping were drawn for the patella, lateral and medial femoral condyle, and lateral and medial tibial condyle. The T2 values were compared between the patients and control group using one-way ANOVA. The joint count data of International Prophylaxis Study Group (IPSG) scores of conventional and SWI sequences were statistically described using the composition ratio, and the rank sum test was used for the difference analysis.
Finally, there were 99 joints in the control group, 135 knees in group A, and 94 knees in group B. There was a significant difference between the T2 value in each subgroup. Comparison of T2 value groups in each cartilage partition, except for group A and group B of the patella, revealed significant differences (all P<0.05). SWI was likely more sensitive than conventional sequences in detecting hemosiderin deposits in hemophilic joints. In addition, the IPSG scores detected by the SWI were generally higher than those of conventional sequences.
MR T2 mapping combined with SWI has great potential to be used for detecting early cartilage damage and micro-hemosiderin deposition in hemophiliac arthropathies and developing preventative treatment plans.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
We solicited ideas for modifying the TDR fellowship using a crowdsourcing challenge. Then we used a mixed methods approach to evaluate texts submitted in response to the challenge. The qualitative ...analysis identified themes from eligible submissions. The quantitative analysis examined the mean score (1-10 scale) assigned to submitted ideas and also the number of eligible women applicants before (2014-7) and after (2018) implementing the top three ideas. We received 311 ideas on improving women's participation in this fellowship from 63 countries. Among all ideas, 282 (91%) were from women and 286 (92%) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thirty-three (17%) ideas received an overall mean score of 7.0 or greater. The top three ideas included enhanced social media communication targeting women, improving career mentorship, and creating a nomination system to nudge women applicants. These ideas were implemented as part of the 2018 fellowship application cycle. The number of eligible women applicants increased from 11 in 2016 to 48 in 2018. The number of eligible men applicants increased from 55 in 2016 to 114 in 2018. Women represent 44% (8/18) of the 2018 cohort. This suggests that the challenge contest resulted in strong participation from women in LMICs. The three top ideas likely contributed to a greater number of women applicants to this mid-career fellowship. Further ways of enhancing women's participation in global health training are needed.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract Background Accumulating evidence has shown that miR-370 play an important role in the development and progression of tumor. However, the role of miR-370 in melanoma remains largely unknown. ...The present study is designed to investigate the function of miR-370 in melanoma and to explore the molecular mechanism underlying its function. Materials and methods The expression level of miR-370 was detected in melanoma tissues and cell lines by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effect of overexpression of miR-370 on in vitro cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion as well as glyclolysis was examined. Western blotting analysis was used to detect the influence of miR-370 on the expression of target genes, and Pearson analysis was used to calculate the correlation between the expression of targets gene and miR-370 in melanoma tissues. Results Our study showed that miR-370 was upregulated in melanoma tissues compared with non-cancerous tissues (P < 0.01). In addition, the expression of miR-370 in melanoma cell lines was also significantly higher (P < 0.01). Enforced expression of miR-370 promotes melanoma cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis and enhances invasion and glycolysis and led to downregulation of the PDHB protein. Moreover, the expression level of miR-370 in melanoma tissues showed inverse relationship with the expression level of PDHB protein. Conclusions In conclusion, our findings suggested that miR-370 represents a potential oncogenic miRNA and plays an important role in melanoma progression by directly targeting PDHB.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
This study aimed to investigate the expression of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (
SPP1
) on lung cancer cells and explore its underlying mechanism on autophagy and apoptosis which effect the development ...of lung cancer cells. GSE19804 related to lung cancer cells was screened from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and we screened the 47 pairs of differential expressed mRNAs in lung cancer cells and adjacent tissues using microarray analysis. The expression of the core gene
SPP1
was detected by qRT-PCR and western-blot. The transfection efficiency of lung cancer cells was detected by qRT-PCR and the expression of transfected group was tested by western-blot. Cell proliferation after transfection was tested by MTT assay and plate cloning experiment. The apoptosis rate of each transfection group was detected by flow cytometry. We use western-blot to test protein expression of autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1, LC3-I, LC3-II and p62 of each transfected group. Through analysis of GSE19804,the heat map showed
SPP1
was the highest expressed in tumor tissues. qRT-PCR and western-blot detected
SPP1
expression in lung cancer tissues was higher than that in normal adjacent tissues and was significantly increased in lung cancer cell lines. After transfection with pcDNA3.1-
SPP1
(p-
SPP1
group), siRNA1-
SPP1
(siRNA1 group) and siRNA2-
SPP1
(siRNA2 group), showed different expression of
SPP1.
Up-regulation of
SPP1
enhanced cell viability and promoted tumor cell proliferation, while knockdown of
SPP1
inhibited tumor cell proliferation. From the results of apoptosis rate,
SPP1
inhibited the tumor cell apoptosis. However, in normal lung cell,
SPP1
had no effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis. And to test autophagy-related proteins, we found that overexpression of
SPP1
inhibited autophagy. High expression of
SPP1
inhibited autophagy and apoptosis to promote the development of small cell lung cancer cells.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Purpose: To study the treatment effect of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) combined with 440 nm blue light and riboflavin on bacterial corneal ulcer using animal experiments.
Methods: A total of ...21 New Zealand white rabbits that developed Staphylococcus aureus corneal ulcer were randomly divided into three groups. Seven rabbits were used as blank control groups; seven rabbits were treated with CXL combined with riboflavin and 440 nm blue light; and seven rabbits were treated with CXL combined with riboflavin and 370 nm ultraviolet A light. Necrotic tissues or secretions from the ulcer surface, eye secretions, conjunctival hyperemia, hypopyon, corneal infiltration, and pathological changes of the cornea were all observed.
Results: The 1st, 3th, and 7th day after CXL treatment, a statistically significant difference was found among the inflammation scores of the three groups. The scores of 440 and 370 groups decreased gradually, significantly lower than that of the control group. Bacterial cultures of 440 and 370 groups turned to be negative while that of the control group remained positive. After 1 day of CXL treatment, pathology pictures of the three groups all showed loss of corneal epithelia with many inflammatory cells in deep stroma. After 7 days of CXL treatment, abscess formed in almost all corneal area in the control group, while in 440 and 370 groups, multilayer healing of corneal epithelia, neovascularization, and many inflammatory cells within ulcers and proliferation of a small amount of fibroblast were seen.
Conclusions: CXL combined with riboflavin and 440 nm blue light is effective in treating S. aureus corneal ulcer.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Summary Background China has low seasonal influenza vaccination rates among priority populations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a pay-it-forward strategy to increase influenza vaccine uptake in ...rural, suburban, and urban settings in China. Methods We performed a quasi-experimental pragmatic trial to examine the effectiveness of a pay-it-forward intervention (a free influenza vaccine and an opportunity to donate financially to support vaccination of other individuals) to increase influenza vaccine uptake compared with standard-of-care user-paid vaccination among children (aged between 6 months and 8 years) and older people (≥60 years) in China. Recruitment took place in the standard-of-care group until the expected sample size was reached and then in the pay-it-forward group in primary care clinics from a rural site (Yangshan), a suburban site (Zengcheng), and an urban site (Tianhe). Participants were introduced to the influenza vaccine by project staff using a pamphlet about influenza vaccination and were either asked to pay out-of-pocket at the standard market price (US$8·5–23·2; standard-of-care group) or to donate any amount anonymously (pay-it-forward group). Participants had to be eligible to receive an influenza vaccine and to have not received an influenza vaccine in the past year. The primary outcome was vaccine uptake. Secondary outcomes were vaccine confidence and costs (from the health-care provider perspective). Regression methods compared influenza vaccine uptake and vaccine confidence between the two groups. This trial is registered with ChiCTR, ChiCTR2000040048. Findings From Sept 21, 2020, to March 3, 2021, 300 enrolees were recruited from patients visiting three primary care clinics. 55 (37%) of 150 people in the standard-of-care group (40 53% of 75 children and 15 20% of 75 older adults) and 111 (74%) of 150 in the pay-it-forward group (66 88% of 75 children and 45 60% of 75 older adults) received an influenza vaccine. People in the pay-it-forward group were more likely to receive an influenza vaccine compared with those in the standard-of-care group (adjusted odds ratio aOR 6·7 95% CI 2·7–16·6 among children and 5·0 2·3–10·8 among older adults). People in the pay-it-forward group had greater confidence in vaccine safety (aOR 2·2 95% CI 1·2–3·9), importance (3·1 1·6–5·9), and effectiveness (3·1 1·7–5·7). In the pay-it-forward group, 107 (96%) of 111 participants donated money for subsequent vaccinations. The pay-it-forward group had a lower economic cost (calculated as the cost without subtraction of donations) per person vaccinated (US$45·60) than did the standard-of-care group ($64·67). Interpretation The pay-it-forward intervention seemed to be effective in improving influenza vaccine uptake and community engagement. Our data have implications for prosocial interventions to enhance influenza vaccine uptake in countries where influenza vaccines are available for a fee. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK National Institute for Health Research.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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